https://pages.xebia.com/tech-leaders-intel
We bring you winning strategies and expert insights from top-notch tech executives that will take your company to new heights of success!

If you're looking for a power-packed dose of inspiration and knowledge, you've come to the right place!]]>enTechnologyCopyright Xebia Crewhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/d7211d511b62a8b450d9c417bb1d7786.jpghttps://pages.xebia.com/tech-leaders-intelThu, 19 Dec 2024 13:03:31 +0000XebiaXebiatli.pl@xebia.comGet ready to be inspired and motivated! Tech Leaders Intel is the ultimate podcast where we dive deep into the exciting world of technology, leadership, and industry challenges. We bring you winning strategies and expert insights from top-notch tech...
We bring you winning strategies and expert insights from top-notch tech executives that will take your company to new heights of success!

If you're looking for a power-packed dose of inspiration and knowledge, you've come to the right place!]]>falseepisodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/measuring-what-matters-unlocking-engineering-productivity-with-ai-and-metrics--63283840productivity and performance. Our guests are Gary Stevens, Director of Engineering at Trainline, and Viktor Clerc, an engineering leader at Xebia, both offering insights into what it takes to build high-performing engineering teams.

Gary shares his experience in balancing team motivation and productivity at Trainline, focusing on customer lifetime value and efficient software delivery. He highlights the complexity of tracking engineering productivity, especially in today’s distributed, remote-first work environments, where effective measurement can no longer rely on simple observation.

Viktor expands on this by emphasizing the importance of optimizing engineering practices and using strategic assessments to overcome client-supplier challenges. His focus is on creating alignment between technology and business goals, ensuring that teams are empowered to deliver not just products, but value.

Throughout the conversation, the guests dive into key topics such as:

• Choosing the right metrics for engineering productivity
• The dangers of gaming metrics and how to avoid it
• Balancing process efficiency with developer happiness and creativity
• Using AI tools like Copilot to improve productivity without compromising quality  

If you're looking to understand how to build motivated, productive engineering teams or want practical insights into how to measure performance effectively, this episode is a must-listen.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/63283840Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:01:59 +0000XebiaIn this episode of Tech Leaders Intel, we hosted two industry experts to discuss one of the most critical and often debated topics in software engineering: productivity and performance. Our guests are...productivity and performance. Our guests are Gary Stevens, Director of Engineering at Trainline, and Viktor Clerc, an engineering leader at Xebia, both offering insights into what it takes to build high-performing engineering teams.

Gary shares his experience in balancing team motivation and productivity at Trainline, focusing on customer lifetime value and efficient software delivery. He highlights the complexity of tracking engineering productivity, especially in today’s distributed, remote-first work environments, where effective measurement can no longer rely on simple observation.

Viktor expands on this by emphasizing the importance of optimizing engineering practices and using strategic assessments to overcome client-supplier challenges. His focus is on creating alignment between technology and business goals, ensuring that teams are empowered to deliver not just products, but value.

Throughout the conversation, the guests dive into key topics such as:

• Choosing the right metrics for engineering productivity
• The dangers of gaming metrics and how to avoid it
• Balancing process efficiency with developer happiness and creativity
• Using AI tools like Copilot to improve productivity without compromising quality  

If you're looking to understand how to build motivated, productive engineering teams or want practical insights into how to measure performance effectively, this episode is a must-listen.
]]>3060ai,aiindev,engineeringexcellence,leadership,teamproductivity,technologyfalse39fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-value-of-forgettable-customer-experiences--60502638can’t be remembered.

That’s what Adam Waite is betting on. As Head of Digital Conversations & AI with British gas supplier Centrica, Adam is laser-focused on using GenAI and large language models to make customer experiences as frictionless as possible. He is one of the minds behind the creation of Cosmo, Centrica’s customer-facing authenticating chatbot that took the gold for Best Innovation in Customer Service at the 2023 ECCCSA Awards. And now Adam sits down with Tech Leaders Intel to let us in on his award-winning insights. Throughout our 45 minutes together, he touches on such topics as:

• The evolution of customer support chat (and consumer trust in it)
• When it’s time to consider buying vs. building new technology
• Why the “channel of truth” is the most important customer service channel of all
• What success in delivering customer experiences looks like
• The difference between data scientists and so-called experts in emerging technologies

…and that’s not all. Adam is full of sharp observations, and he is keyed into the strategies that will make GenAI and large language models work for customer-facing businesses now and into the future. Reach out to him on LinkedIn, and of course, fire up this episode of Tech Leaders Intel!
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60502638Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:00:02 +0000XebiaAs the use of artificial intelligence expands and finds more use cases, there remains special interest in its applications for customer service. Retailers and service providers are training AI to retrieve important information in a natural,...can’t be remembered.

That’s what Adam Waite is betting on. As Head of Digital Conversations & AI with British gas supplier Centrica, Adam is laser-focused on using GenAI and large language models to make customer experiences as frictionless as possible. He is one of the minds behind the creation of Cosmo, Centrica’s customer-facing authenticating chatbot that took the gold for Best Innovation in Customer Service at the 2023 ECCCSA Awards. And now Adam sits down with Tech Leaders Intel to let us in on his award-winning insights. Throughout our 45 minutes together, he touches on such topics as:

• The evolution of customer support chat (and consumer trust in it)
• When it’s time to consider buying vs. building new technology
• Why the “channel of truth” is the most important customer service channel of all
• What success in delivering customer experiences looks like
• The difference between data scientists and so-called experts in emerging technologies

…and that’s not all. Adam is full of sharp observations, and he is keyed into the strategies that will make GenAI and large language models work for customer-facing businesses now and into the future. Reach out to him on LinkedIn, and of course, fire up this episode of Tech Leaders Intel!
]]>2610customerexperience,customerservice,genai,leadership,llmsfalse38fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fintech-problem-solving-navigating-hypothetical-frontiers--60149113Paul Staples, ClearBank’s head of Embedded Banking. Paul has quite the story; originally starting out in the oil industry, he stepped into banking as he swung from working the floors at Goldman Sachs, to being a strategist at Deutsche Bank, then JP Morgan and finally establishing building a case for HSBC as a platform business in Embedded Finance before finally stepping fully into the fintech space with Clearbank. As if all of that isn’t enough, he’s a seed investor by night and an avid gardner to boot.

You’ll quickly notice that Paul has an elite-level entrepreneurial mind that functions like a steel trap when it comes to solving problems, and he brings that to his work in embedded banking. The issue of keeping banking useful, relevant, and putting it where people need it most is foremost in his mind, and he is a powerful advocate for embedded banking as an agent of change in the world we know. While not a coder himself, Paul understands how the power of technology can be put to good use in our day to day lives, using Embedded Banking do drive this. Join him and Nick as their 45-minute conversation touches on topics such as:

• His take on “how banking really works”
• Using unusual hypothetical situations in finding solutions for fintech
• Why he chose to work for Clearbank
• How selling CDs at school helped him shapen his selling skills
• The power of fooling around and finding out in the learning process.

…and of course, much more. For a deeper dive into Paul’s insights, give him a follow or drop him a line on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/60149113Tue, 28 May 2024 13:39:57 +0000XebiaThis episode of Tech Leaders Intel sees Nick Goodwin sit down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/pauljestaples/, https://clear.bank/ head of Embedded Banking. Paul has quite the story; originally starting out in the oil industry, he stepped into banking...Paul Staples, ClearBank’s head of Embedded Banking. Paul has quite the story; originally starting out in the oil industry, he stepped into banking as he swung from working the floors at Goldman Sachs, to being a strategist at Deutsche Bank, then JP Morgan and finally establishing building a case for HSBC as a platform business in Embedded Finance before finally stepping fully into the fintech space with Clearbank. As if all of that isn’t enough, he’s a seed investor by night and an avid gardner to boot.

You’ll quickly notice that Paul has an elite-level entrepreneurial mind that functions like a steel trap when it comes to solving problems, and he brings that to his work in embedded banking. The issue of keeping banking useful, relevant, and putting it where people need it most is foremost in his mind, and he is a powerful advocate for embedded banking as an agent of change in the world we know. While not a coder himself, Paul understands how the power of technology can be put to good use in our day to day lives, using Embedded Banking do drive this. Join him and Nick as their 45-minute conversation touches on topics such as:

• His take on “how banking really works”
• Using unusual hypothetical situations in finding solutions for fintech
• Why he chose to work for Clearbank
• How selling CDs at school helped him shapen his selling skills
• The power of fooling around and finding out in the learning process.

…and of course, much more. For a deeper dive into Paul’s insights, give him a follow or drop him a line on LinkedIn.]]>2748banking,bfsi,embeddedbanking,embeddedfinance,fintech,leadership,technologyfalse37fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-risk-to-reward-the-human-centric-approach-to-business-transformation-with-appian--59304947Stephen Marjot understands what needs to happen in order to make business transformations in the BFSI field a success. Yes, the company must be fully committed, and risks must be mitigated, but it is equally important that transformations must help the staff make them happen as much as help families and small businesses thrive. In an increasingly digital world where customer demands are growing, transformations must be based around people internally rather than the other way around. Serving the colleague so they can serve the customer is how an organization ensures its own prosperous, sustainable, transformative outcomes.  

Join host Nick Goodwin on this illuminating episode of Tech Leaders Intel as he talks with Stephen about the vitality of framing transformations as journeys for both customers and colleagues alike using Appian low-code solutions. During his years of consulting in insurance and oil and gas retail, he set transformations in motion but didn’t get to see them through to completion. In his current position as Head of Change Centre of Excellence with Natwest.

NatWest Group, the UK's largest business bank, has been honored with the Celent Model Risk Manager of the Year Award for its successful initiative to simplify and automate change and risk governance processes. This award recognises the company's ability to reduce multiple assessment cycle times using patterns of governance.

Stephen places the utmost importance on creating a solid problem statement, and for him the solution lies in simplifying processes to create value and organizing projects around people to mitigate risks and make the most valuable products. They dive deep into topics such as:

• Reconciling change with risk governance in the transformation process
• Creating a “colleague journey” to parallel the customer journey
• Hearing who is “making the most noise” to recognize transformation impediments
• The goal of reducing transformation times from 73 days to 73 minutes
• How Appian engaged with Natwest’s issues and goals as a true partner

…and lots more. Lots of transformation tips, notes, and details abound, so this is an episode that requires your full focus.

Opinions expressed in this episode are solely Stephen’s own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer. Any discussion around vendors in no way suggests a positive endorsement.  

For more of Stephen’s business transformation wisdom, reach out to him on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59304947Fri, 05 Apr 2024 10:33:14 +0000Xebiahttps://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-marjot-7589301/ understands what needs to happen in order to make business transformations in the BFSI field a success. Yes, the company must be fully committed, and risks must be mitigated, but it is equally...Stephen Marjot understands what needs to happen in order to make business transformations in the BFSI field a success. Yes, the company must be fully committed, and risks must be mitigated, but it is equally important that transformations must help the staff make them happen as much as help families and small businesses thrive. In an increasingly digital world where customer demands are growing, transformations must be based around people internally rather than the other way around. Serving the colleague so they can serve the customer is how an organization ensures its own prosperous, sustainable, transformative outcomes.  

Join host Nick Goodwin on this illuminating episode of Tech Leaders Intel as he talks with Stephen about the vitality of framing transformations as journeys for both customers and colleagues alike using Appian low-code solutions. During his years of consulting in insurance and oil and gas retail, he set transformations in motion but didn’t get to see them through to completion. In his current position as Head of Change Centre of Excellence with Natwest.

NatWest Group, the UK's largest business bank, has been honored with the Celent Model Risk Manager of the Year Award for its successful initiative to simplify and automate change and risk governance processes. This award recognises the company's ability to reduce multiple assessment cycle times using patterns of governance.

Stephen places the utmost importance on creating a solid problem statement, and for him the solution lies in simplifying processes to create value and organizing projects around people to mitigate risks and make the most valuable products. They dive deep into topics such as:

• Reconciling change with risk governance in the transformation process
• Creating a “colleague journey” to parallel the customer journey
• Hearing who is “making the most noise” to recognize transformation impediments
• The goal of reducing transformation times from 73 days to 73 minutes
• How Appian engaged with Natwest’s issues and goals as a true partner

…and lots more. Lots of transformation tips, notes, and details abound, so this is an episode that requires your full focus.

Opinions expressed in this episode are solely Stephen’s own and do not express the views or opinions of his employer. Any discussion around vendors in no way suggests a positive endorsement.  

For more of Stephen’s business transformation wisdom, reach out to him on LinkedIn.]]>3365bfsi,digitaltransformation,intelligentautomation,lowcodefalse36fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/bridging-the-gap-navigating-legal-and-technology-challenges-in-business--59179856Andreas Giesa interviews Dr. Timm Neu, Team Lead and Product Owner at Volkswagen. Having gained a global outlook on his profession and life, Timm took a long and winding path to get to Volkswagen; he has studied law, worked in India and the US, and even served a stint with the German embassy in Luxembourg! Timm then spent about 10 years in IT law, including as General Cousel of Cleverbridge and Group Legal Cousel at Volkswagen. He eventually transitioned into IT products and international software development steering. Timm shares his general technology leadership insights based on his career experiences and as a product owner. Throughout the conversation, it’s clear that Timm is all about the value of bridging the gap between IT and business, as well as facing the challenges of managing legal compliance in large, international corporations head-on. The conversation also touches on implications and issues at hand for coming legal tech evolutions, highlighting the need for balance in growth and compliance.  

And that’s not all. Andreas and Timm get into the weeds on salient tech topics such as:

• Legal tech challenges and winning strategies
• The importance of involving legal counsel in the early phases of product consulting
• The need for the commitment to legal compliance in large corporations
• Legal and technology challenges of startups and large companies alike
• Balancing legal and technology considerations in business growth

…and of course, much more. Timm is a highly insightful individual with a strategic mindset, not to mention a thorough understanding of the intricacies of law and dynamism of current technology trends, all of which are boosted by his intercultural acumen and showcase his unique expertise and leadership in the legal technology sphere. Connect with Timm through LinkedIn for more of his know-how.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59179856Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:03 +0000XebiaFor this episode of "Tech Leaders Intel," host https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreas-giesa/ interviews https://www.linkedin.com/in/timmneu/, Team Lead and Product Owner at Volkswagen. Having gained a global outlook on his profession and life, Timm took...Andreas Giesa interviews Dr. Timm Neu, Team Lead and Product Owner at Volkswagen. Having gained a global outlook on his profession and life, Timm took a long and winding path to get to Volkswagen; he has studied law, worked in India and the US, and even served a stint with the German embassy in Luxembourg! Timm then spent about 10 years in IT law, including as General Cousel of Cleverbridge and Group Legal Cousel at Volkswagen. He eventually transitioned into IT products and international software development steering. Timm shares his general technology leadership insights based on his career experiences and as a product owner. Throughout the conversation, it’s clear that Timm is all about the value of bridging the gap between IT and business, as well as facing the challenges of managing legal compliance in large, international corporations head-on. The conversation also touches on implications and issues at hand for coming legal tech evolutions, highlighting the need for balance in growth and compliance.  

And that’s not all. Andreas and Timm get into the weeds on salient tech topics such as:

• Legal tech challenges and winning strategies
• The importance of involving legal counsel in the early phases of product consulting
• The need for the commitment to legal compliance in large corporations
• Legal and technology challenges of startups and large companies alike
• Balancing legal and technology considerations in business growth

…and of course, much more. Timm is a highly insightful individual with a strategic mindset, not to mention a thorough understanding of the intricacies of law and dynamism of current technology trends, all of which are boosted by his intercultural acumen and showcase his unique expertise and leadership in the legal technology sphere. Connect with Timm through LinkedIn for more of his know-how.
]]>2560leadership,legal,legaltech,productowner,technologyfalse35fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scaling-engineering-teams-a-playbook-for-success--59099946Kiran Padavala. Viator is an Experience Marketplace that inspires travelers to plan and book unique experiences. As a part of the TripAdvisor family, they are continuing to scale following impressive trading results and ambitious plans. Kiran is an experienced technology leader, with a developed playbook that focusses on the core pillars, enablers and metrics to enable successful scaling of technology teams on a global level. 
 
One thing that’s evident about Kiran from the outset, is that, through hands on experience, really knows about what it takes to scale, understanding that people are involved as much as processes. He knows that culture and workflow are as paramount to a successful scaling-up as any roadmap, and stresses cohesion and honesty in the digital transformation process. As the episode progresses, Kiran runs through his playbook, and touch on topics such as: 
 

• Understanding the context behind a company’s growth story 
• How to maintain a cohesive team culture and sense of purpose whilst of scaling up 
• Practices for managing and synchronizing distributed teams 
• Selecting the right toolset 
• Effectively connecting autonomous teams to “the mothership” 
• Ensuring the alignment of vendors with the company’s transformation roadmap 
• How and why success looks different for data teams 
• What to look for when processes aren’t scaling as expected
• Being upfront and honest about when processes don’t work
• What an effective onboarding process looks like for a scaling team 

 
You’ll find these and many more insights on this episode of TLI. It’s a listen chock-full of valuable gems for enterprising business leaders looking to adopt scalable technologies and processes. Press play to get started, and for more from Kiran, reach out to him on LinkedIn. ]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59099946Wed, 20 Mar 2024 13:47:53 +0000XebiaThis week on Tech Leaders Intel, our Mark Jacks sits down with Viator’s Head of Data and Revenue Management, https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiran-padavala/. Viator is an Experience Marketplace that inspires travelers to plan and book unique experiences....Kiran Padavala. Viator is an Experience Marketplace that inspires travelers to plan and book unique experiences. As a part of the TripAdvisor family, they are continuing to scale following impressive trading results and ambitious plans. Kiran is an experienced technology leader, with a developed playbook that focusses on the core pillars, enablers and metrics to enable successful scaling of technology teams on a global level. 
 
One thing that’s evident about Kiran from the outset, is that, through hands on experience, really knows about what it takes to scale, understanding that people are involved as much as processes. He knows that culture and workflow are as paramount to a successful scaling-up as any roadmap, and stresses cohesion and honesty in the digital transformation process. As the episode progresses, Kiran runs through his playbook, and touch on topics such as: 
 

• Understanding the context behind a company’s growth story 
• How to maintain a cohesive team culture and sense of purpose whilst of scaling up 
• Practices for managing and synchronizing distributed teams 
• Selecting the right toolset 
• Effectively connecting autonomous teams to “the mothership” 
• Ensuring the alignment of vendors with the company’s transformation roadmap 
• How and why success looks different for data teams 
• What to look for when processes aren’t scaling as expected
• Being upfront and honest about when processes don’t work
• What an effective onboarding process looks like for a scaling team 

 
You’ll find these and many more insights on this episode of TLI. It’s a listen chock-full of valuable gems for enterprising business leaders looking to adopt scalable technologies and processes. Press play to get started, and for more from Kiran, reach out to him on LinkedIn. ]]>2444data,leadership,revenuemanagement,scalingengineeringteams,technology,travelfalse34fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/connecting-the-dots-in-problem-solving-and-relationship-building--59031921Mark O’Brien, a senior platform manager with the Leeds Building Society. At the start of his career Mark didn’t expect to find himself in such a role having earned a degree in mathematics and working in fields such as development and architecture. He took up a service operations role for LBS and changed the way it works, transformed from batch process-oriented to event-driven organization, which helped fine-tune the Society’s web presence and make it more responsive for potential homeowners using technologies such as AI and SRE. All of which helped the organization elevate its customer experience through gleaning insight from the large amounts of data they collect.

Moreover, Mark didn’t see himself cut out for management. However, he enjoys leadership, building durable professional relationships, and bringing people together from various teams to work on problems. It is through these lenses that Mark approaches his everything related to his work and career, and it’s fascinating to listen to him apply it to the innovations emerging today. Join Lewis and Mark as they discuss:

• Managing people vs. managing managers
• The importance of building meaningful long-term relationships with suppliers
• Keeping options open for career advancement vs. focusing on obtaining a particular role
• The impact of technology failures being made real for ordinary people
• Delivering solutions vs. delivering experiences
• The key differentiator of being purpose-driven rather than profit-driven
• His sense of the technology challenges for 2024

…and of course, much more. Mark is ultra-focused on using technology to the bottom of issues that hamper the customer experience for homebuyers, and we are sincerely grateful for his wisdom on this episode of TLI! You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn, and find out more about his work at leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/59031921Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:30:01 +0000XebiaOn the newest episode of Tech Leaders Intel, Lewis Bicknell sits down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrmarkobrien/, a senior platform manager with the https://www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/ At the start of his career Mark didn’t expect to find...Mark O’Brien, a senior platform manager with the Leeds Building Society. At the start of his career Mark didn’t expect to find himself in such a role having earned a degree in mathematics and working in fields such as development and architecture. He took up a service operations role for LBS and changed the way it works, transformed from batch process-oriented to event-driven organization, which helped fine-tune the Society’s web presence and make it more responsive for potential homeowners using technologies such as AI and SRE. All of which helped the organization elevate its customer experience through gleaning insight from the large amounts of data they collect.

Moreover, Mark didn’t see himself cut out for management. However, he enjoys leadership, building durable professional relationships, and bringing people together from various teams to work on problems. It is through these lenses that Mark approaches his everything related to his work and career, and it’s fascinating to listen to him apply it to the innovations emerging today. Join Lewis and Mark as they discuss:

• Managing people vs. managing managers
• The importance of building meaningful long-term relationships with suppliers
• Keeping options open for career advancement vs. focusing on obtaining a particular role
• The impact of technology failures being made real for ordinary people
• Delivering solutions vs. delivering experiences
• The key differentiator of being purpose-driven rather than profit-driven
• His sense of the technology challenges for 2024

…and of course, much more. Mark is ultra-focused on using technology to the bottom of issues that hamper the customer experience for homebuyers, and we are sincerely grateful for his wisdom on this episode of TLI! You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn, and find out more about his work at leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk.]]>1850bfsi,leadership,management,purpose-driven,technologyfalse33fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/breaking-boundaries-unconventional-approaches-to-data-science-leadership--58849336Nicholas Bobb, who serves as a trustee of The Data Lab and boasts an extensive background in the financial services industry. Nicholas Bobb's story is particularly compelling as he traces his roots back to the West Indies, detailing his transformative journey to becoming a seasoned data professional in Scotland. Throughout the episode, Nik places a strong emphasis on the critical role of diversity within the realm of data analysis.

Key topics discussed in the episode include:

• Nicholas Bobb's Personal Journey: His transition from an immigrant from the West Indies to a prominent figure in Scotland's data scene.
• Diversity in Data Analysis: The importance of having diverse perspectives in data-related fields and how it can lead to more innovative solutions and better decision-making.
• Evolution of Data in Finance: How data has revolutionized the financial services industry, changing the way financial institutions operate and make decisions.
• Data Skills in Education: The integration of data analytics skills into undergraduate curricula, preparing the next generation of professionals for the data-driven economy.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The need for collaboration between different fields of study to enhance data analysis and utilize data effectively across various sectors.
• Mentorship and Networking: The role of mentorship in personal and professional growth, and how networking can open doors to new opportunities in the data science field.
• Challenging Stereotypes: The necessity to confront and dispel the common stereotypes associated with data analysts to foster a more inclusive and dynamic environment.
• Data's Role in Sports and Gaming: An exploration of how data analytics is becoming increasingly influential in the sports and gaming industries, transforming how performance is measured and strategies are developed.
• Involvement with The Data Lab: Nick encourages listeners to engage with The Data Lab's initiatives, which aim to support and promote data science and its applications.

The episode serves as an inspiring narrative that not only sheds light on Nik's personal and professional growth but also delves into the broader implications of data in today's world. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the diverse applications of data science and consider how they might contribute to or benefit from the initiatives spearheaded by The Data Lab.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58849336Wed, 28 Feb 2024 07:00:02 +0000XebiaIn this insightful episode, host Louis Bicknell engages in a thought-provoking conversation with guest https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasbobb/, who serves as a trustee of https://www.linkedin.com/company/thedatalab/ and boasts an extensive...Nicholas Bobb, who serves as a trustee of The Data Lab and boasts an extensive background in the financial services industry. Nicholas Bobb's story is particularly compelling as he traces his roots back to the West Indies, detailing his transformative journey to becoming a seasoned data professional in Scotland. Throughout the episode, Nik places a strong emphasis on the critical role of diversity within the realm of data analysis.

Key topics discussed in the episode include:

• Nicholas Bobb's Personal Journey: His transition from an immigrant from the West Indies to a prominent figure in Scotland's data scene.
• Diversity in Data Analysis: The importance of having diverse perspectives in data-related fields and how it can lead to more innovative solutions and better decision-making.
• Evolution of Data in Finance: How data has revolutionized the financial services industry, changing the way financial institutions operate and make decisions.
• Data Skills in Education: The integration of data analytics skills into undergraduate curricula, preparing the next generation of professionals for the data-driven economy.
• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The need for collaboration between different fields of study to enhance data analysis and utilize data effectively across various sectors.
• Mentorship and Networking: The role of mentorship in personal and professional growth, and how networking can open doors to new opportunities in the data science field.
• Challenging Stereotypes: The necessity to confront and dispel the common stereotypes associated with data analysts to foster a more inclusive and dynamic environment.
• Data's Role in Sports and Gaming: An exploration of how data analytics is becoming increasingly influential in the sports and gaming industries, transforming how performance is measured and strategies are developed.
• Involvement with The Data Lab: Nick encourages listeners to engage with The Data Lab's initiatives, which aim to support and promote data science and its applications.

The episode serves as an inspiring narrative that not only sheds light on Nik's personal and professional growth but also delves into the broader implications of data in today's world. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on the diverse applications of data science and consider how they might contribute to or benefit from the initiatives spearheaded by The Data Lab.
]]>2425banking,bfsi,data,datadiversity,dataeducation,datainfinance,datascience,engineering,ethicaldata,mentoringfalse32fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/using-life-experience-to-drive-innovation-and-mentor-women-in-tech--58749790
That’s what Carolina Restrepo, a Products, Technology and Innovation Manager at Vanderlande and 2023 Next CIO award-winner, aims to do. Carolina drives innovation and value by emphasizing storytelling as an approach to illustrate the positive changes that technological processes can bring to firms. As someone born in Colombia and having lived all over the world, not to mention a background spanning from industrial engineering to product management in technology, she understands acutely how complex processes lead to winning outcomes.

Host Mark Jacks leads a discussion with Carolina spanning a wide variety of topics including:

• The use of storytelling to convey messages and explain trends & processes
• How she adapted in transitioning from industrial engineering to being a leader in technology
• The importance of defining the value technology can bring to an organization
• Being a relatable role model to empower women in the tech industry
• Inclusivity and valuing different voices in taking on feedback
• What winning a Next CIO Award means for someone in her position

This discussion with Carolina is full of candor and sincerity, qualities which have made her a renowned leader. She is a leader’s leader, and this episode is a vital lesson for those aspiring to make it to the top of their field.

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58749790Wed, 21 Feb 2024 07:30:02 +0000XebiaWhat makes a leader? Not just an executive title or self-appointed honorific on social media, but someone who can take the breadth of their living and professional experience and channel it into enriching the work of their peers and championing their...
That’s what Carolina Restrepo, a Products, Technology and Innovation Manager at Vanderlande and 2023 Next CIO award-winner, aims to do. Carolina drives innovation and value by emphasizing storytelling as an approach to illustrate the positive changes that technological processes can bring to firms. As someone born in Colombia and having lived all over the world, not to mention a background spanning from industrial engineering to product management in technology, she understands acutely how complex processes lead to winning outcomes.

Host Mark Jacks leads a discussion with Carolina spanning a wide variety of topics including:

• The use of storytelling to convey messages and explain trends & processes
• How she adapted in transitioning from industrial engineering to being a leader in technology
• The importance of defining the value technology can bring to an organization
• Being a relatable role model to empower women in the tech industry
• Inclusivity and valuing different voices in taking on feedback
• What winning a Next CIO Award means for someone in her position

This discussion with Carolina is full of candor and sincerity, qualities which have made her a renowned leader. She is a leader’s leader, and this episode is a vital lesson for those aspiring to make it to the top of their field.

]]>2144cio,engineering,inclusivity,leadership,technology,womenintechfalse31fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-idea-to-impact-lessons-in-insurtech-innovation--58272142
On the newest installment of Tech Leaders’ Intel, Nick Goodwin sits down with Rosina Smith, Chief Product Officer at McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS). Rosina’s work focuses on event response and closing the knowledge gap in writing premiums for disaster relief and providing claims expeditiously during disaster relief operations, stressing that insurance is an important market that must be understood. She tells us about her research on applying academic findings to practices in the insurance industry, her evolution as a tech-minded professional through her experiences at Allianz and MIS, and her views on innovation in the insurance industry.

Among other things, Rosina and Nick discuss:

• The importance of “ground truth” in event response
• What success looks like in the insurance sector
• The need for insurance companies to get people outside the industry talking
• Decisions points about data focus in the age of GenAI
• The role of disaster relief as the climate crisis steadily grows

…and much more. Rosina’s fascination with evolving technology means she has a mind for applying innovations to the rapidly changing world of insurance, and taken together with her singular focus on the customer, this episode is a must-listen for those seeking insights!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58272142Fri, 12 Jan 2024 08:02:35 +0000XebiaIn a time when insurance providers are pulling coverage due to the increased frequency of events brought on by climate change, more must be done to offer policies that protect people, their homes, and their belongings, as well as ensure that...
On the newest installment of Tech Leaders’ Intel, Nick Goodwin sits down with Rosina Smith, Chief Product Officer at McKenzie Intelligence Services (MIS). Rosina’s work focuses on event response and closing the knowledge gap in writing premiums for disaster relief and providing claims expeditiously during disaster relief operations, stressing that insurance is an important market that must be understood. She tells us about her research on applying academic findings to practices in the insurance industry, her evolution as a tech-minded professional through her experiences at Allianz and MIS, and her views on innovation in the insurance industry.

Among other things, Rosina and Nick discuss:

• The importance of “ground truth” in event response
• What success looks like in the insurance sector
• The need for insurance companies to get people outside the industry talking
• Decisions points about data focus in the age of GenAI
• The role of disaster relief as the climate crisis steadily grows

…and much more. Rosina’s fascination with evolving technology means she has a mind for applying innovations to the rapidly changing world of insurance, and taken together with her singular focus on the customer, this episode is a must-listen for those seeking insights!]]>2746genai,innovation,insurance,insurtech,insurtechsfalse30fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/recognizing-patterns-and-connecting-the-dots-in-risk-management--58059924Daniele Forni, Director of Credit and Lending at HSBC. Daniele is an author and subject matter expert on risk management who creates analytical solutions for a living, but he’s quite the polymath as well. The first few minutes of the conversation reveal that Daniele formed a band that he recorded albums with, moved to China to study Chinese, and earned his MBA in Economics before settling down to work with HSBC, first in regulatory reporting and then in his current area of expertise. He is truly passionate about understanding how financial institutions leverage data and how different systems connect.

Daniele credits his diverse set of interests and enthusiasm for risk analysis to his mid-life diagnosis with autism and ADHD, which has driven his life-long ability to recognize patterns and connect dots. All of which means that Daniele is always on the hunt for ways to optimize risk management. Together with John they cover a lot of ground, including:

• The crucial differences between building solutions for private clients and businesses
• How understanding data quality impacts hiring for in-demand skillsets in data
• How his autism/ADHD diagnoses helped him understand the importance of neurodiversity at work
• How neurodiversity advocacy has helped him mentor new hires
• His take on the idea that “data is never wrong”

…and of course, much much more. It is an enlightening listen, and Daniele also gives us a preview of his book on data strategy “Is It Pronounced Data or Data?” That’s available via his official website, and you can also follow him on LinkedIn.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/58059924Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:03 +0000XebiaThis week on the Tech Leaders Intel podcast, host John Cheng sits down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieleforni/, Director of Credit and Lending at https://www.hsbc.com/. Daniele is an author and subject matter expert on risk management who...Daniele Forni, Director of Credit and Lending at HSBC. Daniele is an author and subject matter expert on risk management who creates analytical solutions for a living, but he’s quite the polymath as well. The first few minutes of the conversation reveal that Daniele formed a band that he recorded albums with, moved to China to study Chinese, and earned his MBA in Economics before settling down to work with HSBC, first in regulatory reporting and then in his current area of expertise. He is truly passionate about understanding how financial institutions leverage data and how different systems connect.

Daniele credits his diverse set of interests and enthusiasm for risk analysis to his mid-life diagnosis with autism and ADHD, which has driven his life-long ability to recognize patterns and connect dots. All of which means that Daniele is always on the hunt for ways to optimize risk management. Together with John they cover a lot of ground, including:

• The crucial differences between building solutions for private clients and businesses
• How understanding data quality impacts hiring for in-demand skillsets in data
• How his autism/ADHD diagnoses helped him understand the importance of neurodiversity at work
• How neurodiversity advocacy has helped him mentor new hires
• His take on the idea that “data is never wrong”

…and of course, much much more. It is an enlightening listen, and Daniele also gives us a preview of his book on data strategy “Is It Pronounced Data or Data?” That’s available via his official website, and you can also follow him on LinkedIn.
]]>2237data,dataquality,neurodiversity,riskmanagement,technologyfalse29fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/there-s-no-such-thing-as-too-safe-in-vehicle-automation--57983939Ben Upcroft, VP of Technology at OXA (formerly known as Oxbotica). Given his background as a researcher, it is clear that Ben is unwaveringly passionate about automation and robotics as he infodumps on the ins and outs of the technology, especially with regards to safety.

It follows that OXA’s MetaDriver is a virtual tool that aids a vital step in the safeguarding process, identifying both edge and corner cases in simulated driving scenarios up to thousands of times faster than real-world testing. As Ben explains, MetaDriver was developed for all robotics hardware developers to integrate into their development processes.

Over 40 minutes they discuss:

• Ben’s career trajectory in automation from academia to R&D
• Automated vehicles, from personal automobiles to mass transit to mining machinery
• The necessity of building public trust for automated vehicles to be successful on the market
• Why citing a number of test-driven miles does not necessarily translate to a safe product

And of course, much more. Through MetaDriver, Upcroft and OXA are enabling automated vehicles in all their forms from the personal to the industrial, and are being extremely careful and meticulous in doing so. If you’re a robotics enthusiast, this discussion is not to be missed!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57983939Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:17:27 +0000XebiaIn the latest installment of the Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast James Loveridge sits down with https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-upcroft/, VP of Technology at https://oxa.tech/ (formerly known as Oxbotica). Given his background as a researcher, it is clear...Ben Upcroft, VP of Technology at OXA (formerly known as Oxbotica). Given his background as a researcher, it is clear that Ben is unwaveringly passionate about automation and robotics as he infodumps on the ins and outs of the technology, especially with regards to safety.

It follows that OXA’s MetaDriver is a virtual tool that aids a vital step in the safeguarding process, identifying both edge and corner cases in simulated driving scenarios up to thousands of times faster than real-world testing. As Ben explains, MetaDriver was developed for all robotics hardware developers to integrate into their development processes.

Over 40 minutes they discuss:

• Ben’s career trajectory in automation from academia to R&D
• Automated vehicles, from personal automobiles to mass transit to mining machinery
• The necessity of building public trust for automated vehicles to be successful on the market
• Why citing a number of test-driven miles does not necessarily translate to a safe product

And of course, much more. Through MetaDriver, Upcroft and OXA are enabling automated vehicles in all their forms from the personal to the industrial, and are being extremely careful and meticulous in doing so. If you’re a robotics enthusiast, this discussion is not to be missed!]]>2381automation,robotics,self-driving,software,technologyfalse28fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/insurtech-revolution-the-insurance-industry-s-high-tech-survival-guide--57556391ITC DIA’s Head of Content Merlin Beyts on the newest Tech Leaders Intel.

Merlin is involved in organizing events for ITC DIA, an organization that caters to insurance executives, insurtech investors, associations, brokers, and regulators in the European insurtech industry. He uses content and webinars to promote emerging technologies that get insights from data such as Web3, blockchain, and GenAI. Merlin has his finger on the pulse of burgeoning technologies, leadership moods surrounding them, and the state of the insurance profession, and this week we are fortunate to have him bring his tech acumen to the Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast.

On this episode, Nick and Merlin discuss:

• The potential for GenAI to generate code for insurtechs, and the urgency of restraint, risk mitigation and regulation in the fight against misinformation
• Exciting applications for GenAI in serving customers, such as recommendation engines
• The Great Resignation’s impact on attracting tech talent in the insurance industry and why insurtechs have succeeded on the same front
• The need for insurance firms to find customers on the platforms they use

…and that’s not all. Merlin is full of insights, hosting regular webinars on the last Tuesday of every month. For more information on joining, as well as more on the next ITC DIA event in Munich on Nov. 22-23, follow him on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57556391Wed, 08 Nov 2023 08:54:37 +0000XebiaJoin host Nick Goodwin as he sits down with https://www.itcdiaeurope.com/ Head of Content https://www.linkedin.com/in/merlin-beyts-652ab0168/ on the newest Tech Leaders Intel. Merlin is involved in organizing events for ITC DIA, an organization that...ITC DIA’s Head of Content Merlin Beyts on the newest Tech Leaders Intel.

Merlin is involved in organizing events for ITC DIA, an organization that caters to insurance executives, insurtech investors, associations, brokers, and regulators in the European insurtech industry. He uses content and webinars to promote emerging technologies that get insights from data such as Web3, blockchain, and GenAI. Merlin has his finger on the pulse of burgeoning technologies, leadership moods surrounding them, and the state of the insurance profession, and this week we are fortunate to have him bring his tech acumen to the Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast.

On this episode, Nick and Merlin discuss:

• The potential for GenAI to generate code for insurtechs, and the urgency of restraint, risk mitigation and regulation in the fight against misinformation
• Exciting applications for GenAI in serving customers, such as recommendation engines
• The Great Resignation’s impact on attracting tech talent in the insurance industry and why insurtechs have succeeded on the same front
• The need for insurance firms to find customers on the platforms they use

…and that’s not all. Merlin is full of insights, hosting regular webinars on the last Tuesday of every month. For more information on joining, as well as more on the next ITC DIA event in Munich on Nov. 22-23, follow him on LinkedIn.]]>2464blockchain,genai,insurance,insurtechs,web3false27fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/creating-a-culture-of-quality-leadership-insights-on-embracing-diversity--57077507But what makes talent a real deal and how can we nurture a person’s growth, if we don’t give them a chance to begin with?
In an era of endlessly listed bullet points of “must haves” and “mandatory skillsets”, we tend to not take into consideration how we should create positions around people, instead of seeking omniscient beings to fill the unnecessary brackets.

In our most recent Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, our colleague, Mark Jacks, converses with Simon Prior, the Head of Quality Engineering at easyJet, about the importance of Quality Assurance, different perspectives, heterogeneity of talents, and neurodiversity within projects. During our talk, we embark on a journey and deep dive into matters like:

• Raising awareness around the importance of QA from the very beginning of development
• Whether a buggy mess of an application could be considered of high quality
• How job descriptions scare off incredible talents
• Supporting neurodivergent teams

...and much more!

Throughout our conversations, Simon emphasises how “People before projects” is a phrase to live by and that honouring the comfort zones of your team members can bring out the most efficient individuals out there.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/57077507Thu, 05 Oct 2023 07:57:25 +0000XebiaWhen we consider attracting the right talent, we always take technical skills as priority. But what makes talent a real deal and how can we nurture a person’s growth, if we don’t give them a chance to begin with? In an era of endlessly listed bullet...But what makes talent a real deal and how can we nurture a person’s growth, if we don’t give them a chance to begin with?
In an era of endlessly listed bullet points of “must haves” and “mandatory skillsets”, we tend to not take into consideration how we should create positions around people, instead of seeking omniscient beings to fill the unnecessary brackets.

In our most recent Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, our colleague, Mark Jacks, converses with Simon Prior, the Head of Quality Engineering at easyJet, about the importance of Quality Assurance, different perspectives, heterogeneity of talents, and neurodiversity within projects. During our talk, we embark on a journey and deep dive into matters like:

• Raising awareness around the importance of QA from the very beginning of development
• Whether a buggy mess of an application could be considered of high quality
• How job descriptions scare off incredible talents
• Supporting neurodivergent teams

...and much more!

Throughout our conversations, Simon emphasises how “People before projects” is a phrase to live by and that honouring the comfort zones of your team members can bring out the most efficient individuals out there.]]>2266engineering,leadership,neurodiversity,qa,qualityfalse26fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-data-platform-ecosystem-insights-from-shawbrook-bank-s-data-platforms-director--56415757But even if we live the Data, there’s still much more to learn. Perhaps a “wedding cake” analogy, might pique our curiosity to expand our knowledge.


On this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we talk with Shantanu Lodh, a Director of Data Platforms at Shawbrook Bank, which is an award-winning specialist bank, serving real estate professionals, SMEs and consumers with a broad range of lending products and a secure home for their savings.

In the early years, Shan studied economics and had a deep curiosity in coding. The different experiences led him towards uncovering the potential of Data.
During our interview, Shan goes into detail about:

• Partners eco-system and how to partners can differentiate themselves
• What exactly is a data platform and its types
• How to keep sensitive data protected
• The importance of Data governance
• Data democratisation
• Strategy of building blocks

...and much more!



Tune it to our newest episode to grasp the ever-expanding idea of Data!
Also, do check out Shawbrook’s career page, if you’re looking to turn your life around and join their incredible team at: https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/careers/

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56415757Wed, 09 Aug 2023 18:19:45 +0000XebiaIn a world surrounded by Data, it’s basically impossible to keep track of it all. But even if we live the Data, there’s still much more to learn. Perhaps a “wedding cake” analogy, might pique our curiosity to expand our knowledge. On this week’s...But even if we live the Data, there’s still much more to learn. Perhaps a “wedding cake” analogy, might pique our curiosity to expand our knowledge.


On this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we talk with Shantanu Lodh, a Director of Data Platforms at Shawbrook Bank, which is an award-winning specialist bank, serving real estate professionals, SMEs and consumers with a broad range of lending products and a secure home for their savings.

In the early years, Shan studied economics and had a deep curiosity in coding. The different experiences led him towards uncovering the potential of Data.
During our interview, Shan goes into detail about:

• Partners eco-system and how to partners can differentiate themselves
• What exactly is a data platform and its types
• How to keep sensitive data protected
• The importance of Data governance
• Data democratisation
• Strategy of building blocks

...and much more!



Tune it to our newest episode to grasp the ever-expanding idea of Data!
Also, do check out Shawbrook’s career page, if you’re looking to turn your life around and join their incredible team at: https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/careers/

]]>2725data,datagovernance,dataplatform,leaders,technologyfalse25fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-heart-of-transformation-anna-peeck-s-approach-to-product-ops-and-change--56346924
In the latest episode of #TechLeadersIntel, Daniel Sielaff interviews Anna Peeck, Senior Manager in operational excellence and change at Aviv Group. They delve into the significance of Operational Excellence and Change Management in various IT-led companies. Anna also highlights the role of Product Ops in her activities.

Aviv Group, a major real estate holding company in Europe, is currently undergoing a significant transformation due to an active merger. Anna, who initially joined as a freelancer with expertise in change management and mergers and acquisitions, found her place in the Product Ops team. She utilizes her diverse background to help the organization navigate through changes smoothly.

During the interview, Anna emphasizes the importance of intercultural communication and collaboration within a multinational company. Despite the cultural differences, product ops is seen as a central function that is tackled by a unified team. She also discusses the challenges of merging different operational modes and cultures when various companies are brought together.

The conversation also touches upon the value of physical visits to different companies and teams. While remote work can be effective, face-to-face interactions provide unique benefits. Anna highlights the ease of building relationships and rapport in person, as well as the value of meeting international colleagues and attending events.

Additionally, Anna shares insights on the product development process and stakeholder management. She emphasizes the importance of being customer-centric and having conversations with end users. Anna also discusses the significance of measurement and continuous improvement in Product Ops.

This episode of #TechLeadersIntel is a must-listen for anyone interested in Operational Excellence, Change Management, and the role of Product Ops in driving successful transformations. Tune in now and gain valuable insights from Anna Peeck's expertise.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56346924Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:54:44 +0000XebiaIn the virtual world of meetings and remote work, it’s hard to keep the communication and morale at the highest possible level. In the latest episode of #TechLeadersIntel, https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-sielaff-3030b285/ interviews...
In the latest episode of #TechLeadersIntel, Daniel Sielaff interviews Anna Peeck, Senior Manager in operational excellence and change at Aviv Group. They delve into the significance of Operational Excellence and Change Management in various IT-led companies. Anna also highlights the role of Product Ops in her activities.

Aviv Group, a major real estate holding company in Europe, is currently undergoing a significant transformation due to an active merger. Anna, who initially joined as a freelancer with expertise in change management and mergers and acquisitions, found her place in the Product Ops team. She utilizes her diverse background to help the organization navigate through changes smoothly.

During the interview, Anna emphasizes the importance of intercultural communication and collaboration within a multinational company. Despite the cultural differences, product ops is seen as a central function that is tackled by a unified team. She also discusses the challenges of merging different operational modes and cultures when various companies are brought together.

The conversation also touches upon the value of physical visits to different companies and teams. While remote work can be effective, face-to-face interactions provide unique benefits. Anna highlights the ease of building relationships and rapport in person, as well as the value of meeting international colleagues and attending events.

Additionally, Anna shares insights on the product development process and stakeholder management. She emphasizes the importance of being customer-centric and having conversations with end users. Anna also discusses the significance of measurement and continuous improvement in Product Ops.

This episode of #TechLeadersIntel is a must-listen for anyone interested in Operational Excellence, Change Management, and the role of Product Ops in driving successful transformations. Tune in now and gain valuable insights from Anna Peeck's expertise.]]>2346changemanagement,interculturalcommunication,leadership,productdevelopment,productops,technologyfalse24fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/beyond-glass-ceilings-silke-kanes-journey-to-tech-leadership--56174834
On this week’s episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, we speak with Silke Kanes, a Chief Product Officer of Scopevisio AG, a company that was the first German cloud-based ERP, CRM + ECM Suite solution for SME businesses.

Silke starts our interview with a little background story of studying and working in the Tech industry in the 80s. She gives us a little overview about her unplanned career changes, becoming the main bread-earner in the family and how she worked on multiple occasions on diverse projects like Start-Ups, middle-sized companies to consulting in governmental environment.

During our interview she touches on topics like:

• The introduction of agile methodology in software development
• Empowering women to work in a predominantly male industry
• The hardships women face in leadership roles
• The phenomena of the unconscious bias
• The great disruption of all industries with AI
• Encouraging people to try new things and fail to help them grow
• How remote work has impacted the growth of digitalization
  
  

...and much more!

Silke has given us many insights and a lot of perspective to consider while working in the tech industry. She finishes our interview with a few tips for aspiring newcomers, who would like to kick off their careers in the industry.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56174834Fri, 21 Jul 2023 08:57:06 +0000XebiaDigitalization is a massive benefit for every company, especially now, that the modern standards of remote and hybrid work are all the rage. On this week’s episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, we speak with https://www.linkedin.com/in/silkekanes/, a...
On this week’s episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, we speak with Silke Kanes, a Chief Product Officer of Scopevisio AG, a company that was the first German cloud-based ERP, CRM + ECM Suite solution for SME businesses.

Silke starts our interview with a little background story of studying and working in the Tech industry in the 80s. She gives us a little overview about her unplanned career changes, becoming the main bread-earner in the family and how she worked on multiple occasions on diverse projects like Start-Ups, middle-sized companies to consulting in governmental environment.

During our interview she touches on topics like:

• The introduction of agile methodology in software development
• Empowering women to work in a predominantly male industry
• The hardships women face in leadership roles
• The phenomena of the unconscious bias
• The great disruption of all industries with AI
• Encouraging people to try new things and fail to help them grow
• How remote work has impacted the growth of digitalization
  
  

...and much more!

Silke has given us many insights and a lot of perspective to consider while working in the tech industry. She finishes our interview with a few tips for aspiring newcomers, who would like to kick off their careers in the industry.]]>2973agilemethodologies,digitalization,leadership,management,technology,womenintechfalse23fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/from-blockchain-dreams-to-lloyds-license-unveiling-web3-insurance--56084809But it’s even harder to discover new roads on a few-hundred-years pavement like Insurance.

In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel, we meet with Ben Davis, Head of Web3 at Superscript, the first UK Insuretech broker licensed by Lloyds that launched its crypto product to the world.

Ben is passionate about the Web3, and for those unfamiliar with it, Web3 is a series of open-source and interconnected decentralized applications powered by blockchain computing architecture.
Web3 is currently the most segregated insurance industry and the hardest industry to find insurance in, especially within the tech sphere.

During our conversation, Ben details about being a Lloyds licensed broker, the general idea behind it and how the decision came to be. He talks us through his story of moving to the UK and all the obstacles he went through to uncover his passion with the blockchain. He also brings out the story of the Big Short movie and the relatability of it to his earlier experiences within the insurance industry.

Together, we go through topics of:

• How to develop a person to fit the perfect team
• The difference between overwhelming people and challenging projects
• The approach of throwing people in at the deep end
• How they run Business as Usual while still pushing forward with innovation
• The importance of Data and technology to nurture the growth and analyse risks
• Giving the freedom to your team members to suggests innovations of current solutions

...and much more!

Dive into the world of crypto-insurance with us and Ben and discover the potential of out-of-the-box solutions now!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56084809Tue, 18 Jul 2023 10:07:06 +0000XebiaOne thing is always true: It’s extremely hard to become a trailblazer on unknown grounds. But it’s even harder to discover new roads on a few-hundred-years pavement like Insurance. In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel, we meet with...But it’s even harder to discover new roads on a few-hundred-years pavement like Insurance.

In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel, we meet with Ben Davis, Head of Web3 at Superscript, the first UK Insuretech broker licensed by Lloyds that launched its crypto product to the world.

Ben is passionate about the Web3, and for those unfamiliar with it, Web3 is a series of open-source and interconnected decentralized applications powered by blockchain computing architecture.
Web3 is currently the most segregated insurance industry and the hardest industry to find insurance in, especially within the tech sphere.

During our conversation, Ben details about being a Lloyds licensed broker, the general idea behind it and how the decision came to be. He talks us through his story of moving to the UK and all the obstacles he went through to uncover his passion with the blockchain. He also brings out the story of the Big Short movie and the relatability of it to his earlier experiences within the insurance industry.

Together, we go through topics of:

• How to develop a person to fit the perfect team
• The difference between overwhelming people and challenging projects
• The approach of throwing people in at the deep end
• How they run Business as Usual while still pushing forward with innovation
• The importance of Data and technology to nurture the growth and analyse risks
• Giving the freedom to your team members to suggests innovations of current solutions

...and much more!

Dive into the world of crypto-insurance with us and Ben and discover the potential of out-of-the-box solutions now!]]>2412blockchain,data,innovation,insurance,leadership,superscript,technology,web3false22fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-creative-chameleons-design-thinking-in-corporate-landscapes--56011438And the latter is decidedly easier to tackle.

On this week’s episode, we talk with Piotr Tomaszewski, a Design Manager at Taxfix, a German company that created a mobile application that allows its users to either answer a questionnaire to speed up filling forms or connects them with a tax advisor that does it all for you.

During the interview, Piotr goes into detail about career changes, leaps of faith he took and how managerial work evolved from what it used to be. He talks us through how many companies adopted the “me vs them” strategy, how recruiting often can be biased against certain candidates and how talent acquisition is much more than just finding the perfect fit for your organisation.

He also shares his insights on:

• Differences between Culture Fit and Culture Add in hiring
• The importance of intuition in everyday scenarios
• Internal Agency model vs Embedded Model
• How to engage and plan in advance with on-site vs remote employees
• The Norman Door

...and much more!

Tune in to this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel to learn about Designer’s role within a company, but also receive recommendations on books that will help you broaden your professional horizons.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/56011438Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:40:43 +0000XebiaThere are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. And the latter is decidedly easier to tackle. On this week’s episode, we talk with https://www.linkedin.com/in/pptomaszewski/, a Design Manager at https://taxfix.de/, a German company that...And the latter is decidedly easier to tackle.

On this week’s episode, we talk with Piotr Tomaszewski, a Design Manager at Taxfix, a German company that created a mobile application that allows its users to either answer a questionnaire to speed up filling forms or connects them with a tax advisor that does it all for you.

During the interview, Piotr goes into detail about career changes, leaps of faith he took and how managerial work evolved from what it used to be. He talks us through how many companies adopted the “me vs them” strategy, how recruiting often can be biased against certain candidates and how talent acquisition is much more than just finding the perfect fit for your organisation.

He also shares his insights on:

• Differences between Culture Fit and Culture Add in hiring
• The importance of intuition in everyday scenarios
• Internal Agency model vs Embedded Model
• How to engage and plan in advance with on-site vs remote employees
• The Norman Door

...and much more!

Tune in to this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel to learn about Designer’s role within a company, but also receive recommendations on books that will help you broaden your professional horizons.
]]>3225design,hr,management,mobileapp,talent,technologyfalse21fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/embedded-insurance-escaping-the-innovation-trap--54740454Nikolaus Sühr, CEO and co-founder of the insurtech firm Kasko, a firm that works with large insurance companies and intermediaries to digitalise their product portfolios.

Richard and Nikolaus discuss:

• Why the insurtech disruption has not happened yet
• The three schools of thought behind embedded insurance
• The pitfalls of the “innovation trap”
• The top challenges insurtechs currently face

...and much more.

Throughout the conversation Nikolaus reveals himself to be a bona fide technological partner, as he is careful to make sure that insurtechs are embarking on digital transformations for the right reasons. Check out the episode above, and reach out to him on LinkedIn or visit Kasko’s official website.
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54740454Thu, 22 Jun 2023 07:55:24 +0000XebiaWhen we talk about digital transformations, they are not meant to sound like a cure-all that can be applied to stimulate growth. Any firm not willing to do the meticulous work to see that a digital transformation goes to plan properly will find...Nikolaus Sühr, CEO and co-founder of the insurtech firm Kasko, a firm that works with large insurance companies and intermediaries to digitalise their product portfolios.

Richard and Nikolaus discuss:

• Why the insurtech disruption has not happened yet
• The three schools of thought behind embedded insurance
• The pitfalls of the “innovation trap”
• The top challenges insurtechs currently face

...and much more.

Throughout the conversation Nikolaus reveals himself to be a bona fide technological partner, as he is careful to make sure that insurtechs are embarking on digital transformations for the right reasons. Check out the episode above, and reach out to him on LinkedIn or visit Kasko’s official website.
]]>2260ceo,disruption,embeddedinsurance,embeddedmarketplace,innovation,insurance,insurtech,technologyfalse20fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/absolute-transparency-how-to-navigate-information-security--54389824data security becomes an increasingly bigger concern. It follows that education on security risks and precautions for insurtech firm leadership, solution architects and end-users is absolutely paramount.

On the latest installment of the Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we speak with Lee Williamson, Chief Information Security Officer at EIP, who has spent years helping colleagues and customers understand security and extolling the virtues of self-education in this area. Once a freelance consultant, Lee signed on full-time with EIP to oversee the establishment of a company culture that’s laser-focused on security.

Together with host Nick Goodwin, Lee shares his insights on:

• Why a stable executive board is a need-to-have for startup stability
• The value of transparency to clients when security testing solutions
• How continuously reviewing security policies and processes contributes to a secure product
• Staving off vulnerability by making your company harder to access for hackers

…and that’s not all. Ever the champion for data security education, Lee is full of tips and resources to bolster listener knowledge on keeping data safe for everybody involved. It is an absolutely reassuring listen no matter who you are. To get in touch with Lee, he can be reached on LinkedIn, and for more information on EIP, visit their official website
]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54389824Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:11:08 +0000XebiaAs tech startups and disruptors seek to provide more niche services to the general public, data security becomes an increasingly bigger concern. It follows that education on security risks and precautions for insurtech firm leadership, solution...data security becomes an increasingly bigger concern. It follows that education on security risks and precautions for insurtech firm leadership, solution architects and end-users is absolutely paramount.

On the latest installment of the Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we speak with Lee Williamson, Chief Information Security Officer at EIP, who has spent years helping colleagues and customers understand security and extolling the virtues of self-education in this area. Once a freelance consultant, Lee signed on full-time with EIP to oversee the establishment of a company culture that’s laser-focused on security.

Together with host Nick Goodwin, Lee shares his insights on:

• Why a stable executive board is a need-to-have for startup stability
• The value of transparency to clients when security testing solutions
• How continuously reviewing security policies and processes contributes to a secure product
• Staving off vulnerability by making your company harder to access for hackers

…and that’s not all. Ever the champion for data security education, Lee is full of tips and resources to bolster listener knowledge on keeping data safe for everybody involved. It is an absolutely reassuring listen no matter who you are. To get in touch with Lee, he can be reached on LinkedIn, and for more information on EIP, visit their official website
]]>1733ciso,data,information,insurtech,safety,security,technologyfalse19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-invest-your-resources-to-increase-satisfaction-and-fulfilment-within-the-company--54039277Increasing satisfaction within internal and external teams is a never-ending job. But how do you even approach the subject, considering there are just as many opinions as people within the team?

In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we speak with Nuno Veloso, the Head of Engineering at luxury fashion company FARFETCH. Nuno enlightened us on the challenges of being a leader in a rapidly evolving industry where expectations are constantly on the rise. Struggling to understand the viewpoint of all teams, Nuno decided a different approach. While brainstorming with his colleagues, they decided to attack the subject straight-on by undertaking a company-wide survey initiative.

In detail, Nuno tackles subjects like:

• The alignment of different teams
• Understanding impacts and risks of platform interventions
• Planning solutions when something goes awry
• How to understand and name gaps in competencies
• Helping employees see the impact of their daily workloads

...and much more!

This week’s podcast is a must for everyone who struggles to maintain a high satisfaction level within their teams, with helpful advice how to approach the subject head-on.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/54039277Wed, 31 May 2023 06:00:02 +0000XebiaIncreasing satisfaction within internal and external teams is a never-ending job. But how do you even approach the subject, considering there are just as many opinions as people within the team? In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we speak...Increasing satisfaction within internal and external teams is a never-ending job. But how do you even approach the subject, considering there are just as many opinions as people within the team?

In this week’s Tech Leaders’ Intel podcast, we speak with Nuno Veloso, the Head of Engineering at luxury fashion company FARFETCH. Nuno enlightened us on the challenges of being a leader in a rapidly evolving industry where expectations are constantly on the rise. Struggling to understand the viewpoint of all teams, Nuno decided a different approach. While brainstorming with his colleagues, they decided to attack the subject straight-on by undertaking a company-wide survey initiative.

In detail, Nuno tackles subjects like:

• The alignment of different teams
• Understanding impacts and risks of platform interventions
• Planning solutions when something goes awry
• How to understand and name gaps in competencies
• Helping employees see the impact of their daily workloads

...and much more!

This week’s podcast is a must for everyone who struggles to maintain a high satisfaction level within their teams, with helpful advice how to approach the subject head-on.]]>1342agile,engineering,fashion,leadership,productivityfalse18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/impostor-syndrome-a-walkthrough-to-overcome-challenges-and-become-a-leader--53967783Joe Pettersson, a self-described introvert who has broken out of his comfort zone to become the mentor he always wanted to be.

Joe, the Chief Technology Officer at Banked, paints us a picture of how being a jack-of-all-trades prepared him to face the obstacles, how much personal and professional growth are intertwined, and how to fight intrusive thoughts and self-doubt. Together with James, they discuss Joe’s leadership experience, including:

• How a side project turned his life around in an instant
• Impostor syndrome and how to deal with it
• How failure is an acceptable outcome
• The importance of being open and transparent with everybody, including yourself
• Key aspects of a good leader and recognizing flaws
• VC and PE Due Diligence
• Pre-seed and seed fundings

...and much more!

This week’s podcast is a must-listen to everybody interested to become a better mentor.
For more of Joe’s insights you can find him on:

• Twitter
• Linkedin
• His website

]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53967783Wed, 24 May 2023 06:00:02 +0000XebiaOftentimes we read, hear, and see influential people share their journey of becoming great leaders, nurturing growth, setting an example, and lightning the way for others. What most of them omit is the real challenges life puts in your way, that not...Joe Pettersson, a self-described introvert who has broken out of his comfort zone to become the mentor he always wanted to be.

Joe, the Chief Technology Officer at Banked, paints us a picture of how being a jack-of-all-trades prepared him to face the obstacles, how much personal and professional growth are intertwined, and how to fight intrusive thoughts and self-doubt. Together with James, they discuss Joe’s leadership experience, including:

• How a side project turned his life around in an instant
• Impostor syndrome and how to deal with it
• How failure is an acceptable outcome
• The importance of being open and transparent with everybody, including yourself
• Key aspects of a good leader and recognizing flaws
• VC and PE Due Diligence
• Pre-seed and seed fundings

...and much more!

This week’s podcast is a must-listen to everybody interested to become a better mentor.
For more of Joe’s insights you can find him on:

• Twitter
• Linkedin
• His website

]]>2777cto,fintech,leadership,mentoring,payment,platform,technologyfalse17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/scaling-team-management-and-culture-in-a-fast-growing-tech-company--53651963Didier Caroff speaks with Simon Upton to deliver some particularly salient insights about navigating changes in business growth.

Didier, who is vice president of engineering at Akeneo, explains how his background in engineering, banking, and project management helped him become a forward-thinking executive in scaling firms in the product information management (PIM) space. Together they discuss his career and expertise, including:

• PIM’s influence on the customer’s product experience (PX)
• Team-driven topology and domain-driven design
• The role of value streams in the evolution of organisational processes
• How management strategies change during the upscaling of a business

And of course, much more across the span of forty-five minutes. For more of his insights, Didier has a podcast of his own called Beer and Tech. You can subscribe to it on Spotify or reach out to him on Twitter and LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53651963Thu, 04 May 2023 09:37:53 +0000XebiaConventional thinking goes that the most successful startups, technologies, and business leaders are specialists with years of experience mastering the niches and corners of their field. While that may be the reality, it is crucial not to overlook how...Didier Caroff speaks with Simon Upton to deliver some particularly salient insights about navigating changes in business growth.

Didier, who is vice president of engineering at Akeneo, explains how his background in engineering, banking, and project management helped him become a forward-thinking executive in scaling firms in the product information management (PIM) space. Together they discuss his career and expertise, including:

• PIM’s influence on the customer’s product experience (PX)
• Team-driven topology and domain-driven design
• The role of value streams in the evolution of organisational processes
• How management strategies change during the upscaling of a business

And of course, much more across the span of forty-five minutes. For more of his insights, Didier has a podcast of his own called Beer and Tech. You can subscribe to it on Spotify or reach out to him on Twitter and LinkedIn.]]>2686ceo,cloud,customerexperience,dataquality,ecommerce,leadership,management,productexperience,retail,saas,technologyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/inside-the-startup-rollercoaster-a-candid-look-at-a-ceo-s-journey--53650054Lunio founder Neil Andrew tells his story from disenchantment with education to distaste for corporate life to founding a successful marketing efficiency platform.

With the Great Resignation seeing elevated numbers of people quitting their jobs for a multitude of reasons, Neil’s story gives hope to those trying to strike out on their own. Together with James, they discuss:

• Staying true to your own values while building a company
• Making difficult decisions in the early days of a startup
• The difficulties of (re)writing documentation and changing your tech stack on your own
• Transitioning from founding activities to the boardroom

...with many more insights contained within. The conversation flows easily, and Neil gives us an unvarnished portrait of the trials and rewards of growing Lunio. He is an approachable guy who invites anyone who needs support to contact him on LinkedIn. For more information on the value that Lunio provides, visit their website.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53650054Wed, 26 Apr 2023 08:36:26 +0000XebiaYou rarely hear from business leaders about those difficult early decisions that go into building a startup. Hearing from someone who has been there speak about their experiences with radical candour is a breath of fresh air. On the newest episode of...Lunio founder Neil Andrew tells his story from disenchantment with education to distaste for corporate life to founding a successful marketing efficiency platform.

With the Great Resignation seeing elevated numbers of people quitting their jobs for a multitude of reasons, Neil’s story gives hope to those trying to strike out on their own. Together with James, they discuss:

• Staying true to your own values while building a company
• Making difficult decisions in the early days of a startup
• The difficulties of (re)writing documentation and changing your tech stack on your own
• Transitioning from founding activities to the boardroom

...with many more insights contained within. The conversation flows easily, and Neil gives us an unvarnished portrait of the trials and rewards of growing Lunio. He is an approachable guy who invites anyone who needs support to contact him on LinkedIn. For more information on the value that Lunio provides, visit their website.]]>2760ads,ceo,leadership,marketing,performance,startup,technologyfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/unlocking-the-secrets-of-consumer-duty--53570999Dave Tonge, CTO of MoneyHub, a data and payments fintech and a pioneer of open banking. Having been at MoneyHub for nearly 12 years now, Dave is well-placed to share his knowledge on consumer data rights, open finance initiatives, tech leadership and more.

With new consumer duty regulations coming into place in July, Dave couldn’t have joined us for a chat at a more important time, as MoneyHub provides solutions for businesses to help them deliver on their customer care responsibilities. With that in mind, key highlights of our conversation include:

• MoneyHub’s ‘Categorisation Engine’ and using machine learning to help businesses meet customer needs.
• The importance of contextualizing your communications to customers and why this can help firms deliver on duty regulations.
• Overcoming issues presented by legacy systems.
• Retaining talent and what really constitutes ‘agile working’.
• How to avoid code rot.

This is certainly an episode not to miss – after all, as Dave sums it up, we often underestimate the changes that can occur in the space of a decade, but, despite the challenges, this is precisely what makes this industry so exciting. We totally agree – thanks for joining us Dave and for being so open with your advice. If you want to learn more about MoneyHub, check them out online here. Or, you can continue the conversation with Dave directly by connecting with him on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53570999Wed, 19 Apr 2023 06:00:02 +0000XebiaThis week on Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/davetonge/, CTO of https://www.moneyhub.com/, a data and payments fintech and a pioneer of open banking. Having been at MoneyHub for nearly 12 years now, Dave is well-placed...Dave Tonge, CTO of MoneyHub, a data and payments fintech and a pioneer of open banking. Having been at MoneyHub for nearly 12 years now, Dave is well-placed to share his knowledge on consumer data rights, open finance initiatives, tech leadership and more.

With new consumer duty regulations coming into place in July, Dave couldn’t have joined us for a chat at a more important time, as MoneyHub provides solutions for businesses to help them deliver on their customer care responsibilities. With that in mind, key highlights of our conversation include:

• MoneyHub’s ‘Categorisation Engine’ and using machine learning to help businesses meet customer needs.
• The importance of contextualizing your communications to customers and why this can help firms deliver on duty regulations.
• Overcoming issues presented by legacy systems.
• Retaining talent and what really constitutes ‘agile working’.
• How to avoid code rot.

This is certainly an episode not to miss – after all, as Dave sums it up, we often underestimate the changes that can occur in the space of a decade, but, despite the challenges, this is precisely what makes this industry so exciting. We totally agree – thanks for joining us Dave and for being so open with your advice. If you want to learn more about MoneyHub, check them out online here. Or, you can continue the conversation with Dave directly by connecting with him on LinkedIn.]]>2306agile,cto,customerdutyregulations,data,engine,it,legacysystems,machinelearning,openbanking,technologyfalse14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/managing-an-effective-devops-team--53522186Primoz Fonda, VP of DevOps at global fintech company SumUp. Originally from Slovenia, Primoz has been in London for the past 11 years, climbing the ranks from system administrator to his current leadership role.

We start by discussing the differences between ways of working in Slovenia vs. those in the UK, and Primoz explains why the expectation to be a generalist when he started out actually helped him on his journey to where he is now – not the least because it means he’s extremely agile when it comes to adopting new tech and learning new processes!

With this in mind, Primoz is able to share his advice on:

• Knowing if and when to move into a leadership position
• Acting as a mentor and an enabler for your team
• The pros and cons of the ‘Spotify Model’
• Being a salesperson for your role while not acting as a blocker
• Understanding the different needs of stakeholders

And much, much more!

With his interesting and varied career history (and, by the sounds of it, plenty more challenges and opportunities still to come) Primoz’s insight is invaluable for anyone working in engineering and considering moving into a leadership role. If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, you can connect with Primoz on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53522186Thu, 13 Apr 2023 08:28:20 +0000XebiaIn this week’s episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re very happy to be joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/primozf/, VP of DevOps at global fintech company https://www.sumup.com/en-us/. Originally from Slovenia, Primoz has been in London for the past...Primoz Fonda, VP of DevOps at global fintech company SumUp. Originally from Slovenia, Primoz has been in London for the past 11 years, climbing the ranks from system administrator to his current leadership role.

We start by discussing the differences between ways of working in Slovenia vs. those in the UK, and Primoz explains why the expectation to be a generalist when he started out actually helped him on his journey to where he is now – not the least because it means he’s extremely agile when it comes to adopting new tech and learning new processes!

With this in mind, Primoz is able to share his advice on:

• Knowing if and when to move into a leadership position
• Acting as a mentor and an enabler for your team
• The pros and cons of the ‘Spotify Model’
• Being a salesperson for your role while not acting as a blocker
• Understanding the different needs of stakeholders

And much, much more!

With his interesting and varied career history (and, by the sounds of it, plenty more challenges and opportunities still to come) Primoz’s insight is invaluable for anyone working in engineering and considering moving into a leadership role. If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, you can connect with Primoz on LinkedIn.]]>1735cloud,devops,finops,fintech,it,leadership,technologyfalse13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/when-and-when-not-to-make-your-teams-agile-and-independent--53437285Paolo Negri, co-founder of Contentful, a headless content management system. Founded in 2013 in Berlin, and now based in San Francisco, the company has grown rapidly and was valued at US$3bn in 2021.

Paolo and his co-founder Sascha Konietzke met after an entrepreneur speed-dating event. Their early days involved working in the cheapest room of a shared office space, with an engineer sleeping on an old sofa. As you can imagine, growing from their first investment ($0.5m) to their most recent one ($175m) required learning specific skills, and fast!

Paolo talks us through the importance of early investors who can look beyond uneven results and the knowledge value (and reality checks) they bring, before sharing key insights around:

• the challenges of development and consistency when you’re an API-based company,
• the importance of when and when not to make teams agile and independent, and
• the growth of low-code/no-code development.

Finally, Paolo shares some valuable tips, from recommended reading to advice he’d give his younger self. We’ve learnt so much recording this episode – and we’re sure you will by listening to it. If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, connect with Paolo on Linkedin.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53437285Wed, 05 Apr 2023 07:00:02 +0000XebiaWelcome to Episode 12 of Tech Leaders’ Intel. This week we’re speaking with https://www.linkedin.com/in/panegri/, co-founder of http://contentful.com/, a headless content management system. Founded in 2013 in Berlin, and now based in San Francisco,...Paolo Negri, co-founder of Contentful, a headless content management system. Founded in 2013 in Berlin, and now based in San Francisco, the company has grown rapidly and was valued at US$3bn in 2021.

Paolo and his co-founder Sascha Konietzke met after an entrepreneur speed-dating event. Their early days involved working in the cheapest room of a shared office space, with an engineer sleeping on an old sofa. As you can imagine, growing from their first investment ($0.5m) to their most recent one ($175m) required learning specific skills, and fast!

Paolo talks us through the importance of early investors who can look beyond uneven results and the knowledge value (and reality checks) they bring, before sharing key insights around:

• the challenges of development and consistency when you’re an API-based company,
• the importance of when and when not to make teams agile and independent, and
• the growth of low-code/no-code development.

Finally, Paolo shares some valuable tips, from recommended reading to advice he’d give his younger self. We’ve learnt so much recording this episode – and we’re sure you will by listening to it. If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, connect with Paolo on Linkedin.]]>2495agile,api,cms,cto,enterpreneurship,growth,investors,technologyfalse12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/growing-your-company-without-losing-sight-of-your-values--53375311Dennis Teichmann, co-founder of the HR-software company Jacando. In light of their rapid growth in the booming HR-software market, we asked Dennis about:

• how to identify market demand and when to pivot your product,
  
  
• how your company culture will change with time and growth and what you can do to keep some of that pioneering magic
  
  
• when to offshore your IT and what to look out for when you go for it.

In the process we learn what happens to your company culture when you grow fast, how to find the balance between being a team player and having ambition, and when to accept that a colleague doesn’t share your values. Dennis also shares three big learnings from being an entrepreneur – so tune in for insights you don’t get elsewhere!

If you like what you hear and want to keep the conversation going, you can check in with Dennis on LinkedIn]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53375311Wed, 29 Mar 2023 07:37:33 +0000XebiaWelcome to Episode 11 of Tech Leaders’ Intel. This week, we’re chatting with https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennisteichmann/, co-founder of the HR-software company https://www.jacando.com/en/. In light of their rapid growth in the booming HR-software...Dennis Teichmann, co-founder of the HR-software company Jacando. In light of their rapid growth in the booming HR-software market, we asked Dennis about:

• how to identify market demand and when to pivot your product,
  
  
• how your company culture will change with time and growth and what you can do to keep some of that pioneering magic
  
  
• when to offshore your IT and what to look out for when you go for it.

In the process we learn what happens to your company culture when you grow fast, how to find the balance between being a team player and having ambition, and when to accept that a colleague doesn’t share your values. Dennis also shares three big learnings from being an entrepreneur – so tune in for insights you don’t get elsewhere!

If you like what you hear and want to keep the conversation going, you can check in with Dennis on LinkedIn]]>1974ceo,culture,growth,hr,leadership,software,valuesfalse11fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-banish-knowledge-tribalism-in-growing-companies--53281539Vicky Bukta. She only graduated from the University of Toronto in 2017, but after joining the e-commerce trailblazer, Shopify, her impressive career growth has seen her rapidly rise through the ranks to become the company’s data-engineering team lead.

We begin by discussing how she entered the field and joined Shopify, before moving onto the challenges small companies face as the number and complexity of their data sets grow. For Vicky, overcoming these challenges meant teaching the wider company how to handle routine and detailed queries about data sets, so her team could focus on bigger data-engineering issues. That involved ensuring team knowledge was taken out of people’s heads and recorded for others to find and use, a process that required constant discipline.

It turns out this process is also essential for supporting the growing trend towards remote working as it helps prevent team tribalism of knowledge. Vicky’s team straddles multiple time zones, with some members having no overlap in their working hours, which presents both challenges and opportunities. Not only do we talk about how her team now works together, but we also consider how remote working is increasingly becoming something tech companies must embrace to secure and retain the best global talent.

Finally, we end by discussing how it is more important than ever to encourage women to go into tech from an early age; and why female tech representation in the media is so crucial for this.

If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, you can connect with Vicky on LinkedIn or visit her website VictoriaBukta.me]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53281539Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:39:24 +0000XebiaWelcome to Episode 10 of Tech Leaders’ Intel! This week we’re excited to be joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-bukta-bb499695/. She only graduated from the University of Toronto in 2017, but after joining the e-commerce trailblazer,...Vicky Bukta. She only graduated from the University of Toronto in 2017, but after joining the e-commerce trailblazer, Shopify, her impressive career growth has seen her rapidly rise through the ranks to become the company’s data-engineering team lead.

We begin by discussing how she entered the field and joined Shopify, before moving onto the challenges small companies face as the number and complexity of their data sets grow. For Vicky, overcoming these challenges meant teaching the wider company how to handle routine and detailed queries about data sets, so her team could focus on bigger data-engineering issues. That involved ensuring team knowledge was taken out of people’s heads and recorded for others to find and use, a process that required constant discipline.

It turns out this process is also essential for supporting the growing trend towards remote working as it helps prevent team tribalism of knowledge. Vicky’s team straddles multiple time zones, with some members having no overlap in their working hours, which presents both challenges and opportunities. Not only do we talk about how her team now works together, but we also consider how remote working is increasingly becoming something tech companies must embrace to secure and retain the best global talent.

Finally, we end by discussing how it is more important than ever to encourage women to go into tech from an early age; and why female tech representation in the media is so crucial for this.

If you like what you hear and want to continue the conversation, you can connect with Vicky on LinkedIn or visit her website VictoriaBukta.me]]>3052data,engineering,leadership,technologyfalse10fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/making-your-business-secure-the-importance-of-damage-limitation--53195255Torbjörn Andersson, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Medius, a private equity backed company that provides cloud-based spend-management solutions. Torbjörn has over 20 years of experience in IT, 12 of which are in information and cloud security.

Drawing on Torbjörn’s wealth of experience, we begin by discussing the challenges of moving over from consultancy into the SaaS field, a field that requires a far broader, strategic view of how problems affect the wider company. For Torbjörn, an essential part of his role as CISO is being an information security (InfoSec) salesman to the rest of the company, explaining its benefits to people who may not always understand its importance. The key? Prioritising your work and communicating that effectively to the rest of the business to secure buy-in. Open communication is essential to making sure security is integrated from the get-go, rather than something tagged on later.

We then move on to discussion around the increased threat of cyber-attacks today – some from very advanced threat actors – and how to address it. Something non-experts may not understand, Torbjörn explains, is that we can never be 100% secure: someone will eventually manage to get through our defences. That’s why it’s so important to have the discussion early on about what success is and recognise why you sometimes must focus on damage limitation. How to go about this? By increased monitoring at an early stage, thorough incidence response training, crisis management and continuity planning for the whole company, as well as rolling risk analysis.

Say no more, Torbjörn – you’ve convinced us! If you want to discuss these issues, and more, with Torbjörn, you can find him on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53195255Thu, 16 Mar 2023 08:38:55 +0000XebiaThis week on Tech Leaders’ Intel we’re speaking to https://www.linkedin.com/in/torbjorn-andersson-/, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at https://www.medius.com/, a private equity backed company that provides cloud-based spend-management...Torbjörn Andersson, Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Medius, a private equity backed company that provides cloud-based spend-management solutions. Torbjörn has over 20 years of experience in IT, 12 of which are in information and cloud security.

Drawing on Torbjörn’s wealth of experience, we begin by discussing the challenges of moving over from consultancy into the SaaS field, a field that requires a far broader, strategic view of how problems affect the wider company. For Torbjörn, an essential part of his role as CISO is being an information security (InfoSec) salesman to the rest of the company, explaining its benefits to people who may not always understand its importance. The key? Prioritising your work and communicating that effectively to the rest of the business to secure buy-in. Open communication is essential to making sure security is integrated from the get-go, rather than something tagged on later.

We then move on to discussion around the increased threat of cyber-attacks today – some from very advanced threat actors – and how to address it. Something non-experts may not understand, Torbjörn explains, is that we can never be 100% secure: someone will eventually manage to get through our defences. That’s why it’s so important to have the discussion early on about what success is and recognise why you sometimes must focus on damage limitation. How to go about this? By increased monitoring at an early stage, thorough incidence response training, crisis management and continuity planning for the whole company, as well as rolling risk analysis.

Say no more, Torbjörn – you’ve convinced us! If you want to discuss these issues, and more, with Torbjörn, you can find him on LinkedIn and keep the conversation going.]]>2231ciso,consulting,it,saas,securityfalse9fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/growing-a-tech-business-why-a-data-first-approach-is-crucial--53119927Andrei Nita, former Director of Data and Analytics at ai-driven software company Builder.ai and now Director of Engineering at HyperionDev. Andrei has previously worked for the likes of IBM and Gameloft, and was at Builder.ai. for three years before his recent move.

In today’s episode, Andrei begins by talking us through his journey from his roots in development to his move into data, and the ever-growing importance of data as a field in itself. Andrei highlights for us the opportunities it presents, the problems it solves and the role it plays when it comes to opening up and diversifying the tech talent pool.

On top of this, Andrei touches on data maturity, open access and the democratisation of data. Ultimately, he says, you want people to put trust in both the data and themselves – and you do this by making data so easy to access that anyone can do it. After all, the word ‘democratisation’ is political, and what makes a successful politician? Educating people and being transparent throughout the process.

Finally, Andrei talks us about the process of securing funding and data’s role in this, and shares his tips about implementing a strategy-first approach when it comes to building your business. The biggest opportunity he sees for himself this year? Being able to use his voice to spread this very message. Looks like he came to the right platform! Thank you for joining us Andrei – and if you have more you want to discuss with him, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/53119927Thu, 09 Mar 2023 13:16:42 +0000XebiaThis week on Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/nitaionutandrei/, former Director of Data and Analytics at ai-driven software company Builder.ai and now Director of Engineering at HyperionDev. Andrei has previously worked...Andrei Nita, former Director of Data and Analytics at ai-driven software company Builder.ai and now Director of Engineering at HyperionDev. Andrei has previously worked for the likes of IBM and Gameloft, and was at Builder.ai. for three years before his recent move.

In today’s episode, Andrei begins by talking us through his journey from his roots in development to his move into data, and the ever-growing importance of data as a field in itself. Andrei highlights for us the opportunities it presents, the problems it solves and the role it plays when it comes to opening up and diversifying the tech talent pool.

On top of this, Andrei touches on data maturity, open access and the democratisation of data. Ultimately, he says, you want people to put trust in both the data and themselves – and you do this by making data so easy to access that anyone can do it. After all, the word ‘democratisation’ is political, and what makes a successful politician? Educating people and being transparent throughout the process.

Finally, Andrei talks us about the process of securing funding and data’s role in this, and shares his tips about implementing a strategy-first approach when it comes to building your business. The biggest opportunity he sees for himself this year? Being able to use his voice to spread this very message. Looks like he came to the right platform! Thank you for joining us Andrei – and if you have more you want to discuss with him, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.]]>2472analytics,data,engineering,leadership,technologyfalse8fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/expanding-your-engineering-team-in-a-fast-growing-scale-up--52874945Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by Imran Arshed, CTO and co-founder of Plum Guide, a marketplace peer to peer vacation booking site based out of London. From the first days of coding the system to scaling up swiftly, Imran’s insight is invaluable when it comes to understanding development and hiring processes in a fast-growing business.

Whether trying to hire while still writing the bare bones of the code yourself or expanding a team to meet the developing needs of your company, prioritisation is crucial, says Imran. This means looking specifically at what will have the biggest impact at each specific moment in time. As a result, Imran doesn’t focus on headcount and explains to us why he started out by building a very small team of senior engineers. He also talks us through how he goes about sifting CVs, his interview process, and how he slots his own role into the mix to meet business needs.

Finally, Imran takes us through his way of nurturing communication skills within the engineering function using ‘stack meetings’ which gives his team members a regular opportunity to share something they have been working on. Why? Because communication is an often overlooked but hugely important part of being an engineer. After all, not everyone understands the jargon and being able to explain the how and the why of complex processes to stakeholders is crucial. We definitely agree!

If you want to get in touch with Imran to learn more, you can connect with him on LinkedIn. Or, if Plum Guide has piqued your interest, head to www.plumguide.com to see it for yourself!]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52874945Wed, 01 Mar 2023 10:29:01 +0000XebiaFor this episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/imran-arshed-b213387a/, CTO and co-founder of https://www.plumguide.com/, a marketplace peer to peer vacation booking site based out of London. From the first days of...Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by Imran Arshed, CTO and co-founder of Plum Guide, a marketplace peer to peer vacation booking site based out of London. From the first days of coding the system to scaling up swiftly, Imran’s insight is invaluable when it comes to understanding development and hiring processes in a fast-growing business.

Whether trying to hire while still writing the bare bones of the code yourself or expanding a team to meet the developing needs of your company, prioritisation is crucial, says Imran. This means looking specifically at what will have the biggest impact at each specific moment in time. As a result, Imran doesn’t focus on headcount and explains to us why he started out by building a very small team of senior engineers. He also talks us through how he goes about sifting CVs, his interview process, and how he slots his own role into the mix to meet business needs.

Finally, Imran takes us through his way of nurturing communication skills within the engineering function using ‘stack meetings’ which gives his team members a regular opportunity to share something they have been working on. Why? Because communication is an often overlooked but hugely important part of being an engineer. After all, not everyone understands the jargon and being able to explain the how and the why of complex processes to stakeholders is crucial. We definitely agree!

If you want to get in touch with Imran to learn more, you can connect with him on LinkedIn. Or, if Plum Guide has piqued your interest, head to www.plumguide.com to see it for yourself!]]>2434cto,engineers,scaleup.,startup,technologyfalse7fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fostering-leadership-in-a-failsafe-environment--52802022Juan Gutierrez Plaza, the VP of Engineering for Scoro, a work management SaaS platform based in Estonia. Juan has been working in software development for 20 years now, in industries including telecom and banking before turning his focus to SaaS.

From implementing a four-day working week, to the advantages of launching and running a tech start-up in Estonia, Juan talks us through best practice and the importance of having the right tools, setting and context to help your business grow.

Of course, when it comes to running a successful start-up, employee retention is hugely important. As the manager of a large team in a fast-growing organisation, it is crucial that his engineers have plenty of freedom, Juan says. How to nurture this? Create an environment which allows both choice and opportunity.

To do this, Juan takes quite a unique approach to software delivery methodologies: the missions framework. Such a framework not only allows engineers to feel a greater sense of belonging and ownership, but also gives them the opportunities to be leaders – mission captains – in a safe environment where they can see if leadership is for them. Other benefits? Mission structures can be easily tweaked if priorities shift, making this the perfect approach for a fast-growing start-up. It’s a fascinating approach – and we won’t be surprised if many future leaders emerge from Scoro under Juan’s mentorship!

If you have more questions for Juan, you can connect with him on LinkedIn, or you can learn more about Scoro by visiting the company website.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52802022Wed, 22 Feb 2023 10:05:30 +0000XebiaThis week on Tech Leaders’ Intel, we’re joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/juagutie/, the VP of Engineering for https://www.scoro.com/, a work management SaaS platform based in Estonia. Juan has been working in software development for 20 years...Juan Gutierrez Plaza, the VP of Engineering for Scoro, a work management SaaS platform based in Estonia. Juan has been working in software development for 20 years now, in industries including telecom and banking before turning his focus to SaaS.

From implementing a four-day working week, to the advantages of launching and running a tech start-up in Estonia, Juan talks us through best practice and the importance of having the right tools, setting and context to help your business grow.

Of course, when it comes to running a successful start-up, employee retention is hugely important. As the manager of a large team in a fast-growing organisation, it is crucial that his engineers have plenty of freedom, Juan says. How to nurture this? Create an environment which allows both choice and opportunity.

To do this, Juan takes quite a unique approach to software delivery methodologies: the missions framework. Such a framework not only allows engineers to feel a greater sense of belonging and ownership, but also gives them the opportunities to be leaders – mission captains – in a safe environment where they can see if leadership is for them. Other benefits? Mission structures can be easily tweaked if priorities shift, making this the perfect approach for a fast-growing start-up. It’s a fascinating approach – and we won’t be surprised if many future leaders emerge from Scoro under Juan’s mentorship!

If you have more questions for Juan, you can connect with him on LinkedIn, or you can learn more about Scoro by visiting the company website.]]>2778cto,engineering,framework,leadership,saas,software,startup,technologyfalse6fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-to-empower-your-engineers-to-be-leaders-a-cto-explains--52549049Ravneet Shah, CTO of Allica Bank, the dedicated bank supporting SMEs. An engineer at heart, Ravneet has been at Allica for three years, and became CTO in January 2022 after initially joining the firm as an integration lead.

Today, Ravneet talks us through her journey to becoming a CTO and the challenges she overcame when making the transition. It was exposure to a multitude of different systems early on that helped her grow so quickly, she says, and she tries to give her junior engineers the same experience today.

On top of this, Ravneet explains the importance of continual learning from others at all levels – it is often graduates, she says, who can bring the freshest ideas to the table. But how do you go about making sure your juniors feel empowered to do this? It’s all about encouraging an environment where everyone is able to learn and share at all times, while owning their solutions from development to deployment.

Finally, Ravneet talks us through the hiring process, what differs when you’re working in a regulated industry, how to delegate, and the importance of tailoring the working environment to the individual. Ultimately, you’re still being productive as a leader even though you’re no longer the one providing solutions. The skill is in enabling your team to provide them – and often these might be better than the ones you had in mind yourself!

Thanks to Ravneet for sharing her insights – if you would like to hear more, then you can connect with her on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52549049Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:59:57 +0000XebiaIn the fifth episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel, James Loveridge is joined by https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravneet-shah/, CTO of https://www.allica.bank/, the dedicated bank supporting SMEs. An engineer at heart, Ravneet has been at Allica for three years,...Ravneet Shah, CTO of Allica Bank, the dedicated bank supporting SMEs. An engineer at heart, Ravneet has been at Allica for three years, and became CTO in January 2022 after initially joining the firm as an integration lead.

Today, Ravneet talks us through her journey to becoming a CTO and the challenges she overcame when making the transition. It was exposure to a multitude of different systems early on that helped her grow so quickly, she says, and she tries to give her junior engineers the same experience today.

On top of this, Ravneet explains the importance of continual learning from others at all levels – it is often graduates, she says, who can bring the freshest ideas to the table. But how do you go about making sure your juniors feel empowered to do this? It’s all about encouraging an environment where everyone is able to learn and share at all times, while owning their solutions from development to deployment.

Finally, Ravneet talks us through the hiring process, what differs when you’re working in a regulated industry, how to delegate, and the importance of tailoring the working environment to the individual. Ultimately, you’re still being productive as a leader even though you’re no longer the one providing solutions. The skill is in enabling your team to provide them – and often these might be better than the ones you had in mind yourself!

Thanks to Ravneet for sharing her insights – if you would like to hear more, then you can connect with her on LinkedIn.]]>2918banks,cto,empowerment,leadership,technologyfalse5fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/what-makes-a-good-tech-leader-and-how-do-you-get-there--52225953David Maidment, an experienced start-up CTO and Head of Engineering, with a great track record of spearheading digital transformation. Today, he talks to us about his unconventional route into his role, which began in a humble shoe shop. After touching on routes into technology, we turn to the journey from programming to management, the importance of making your team self-sufficient while giving them the right amount of support and being an effective salesperson for your trade.

What stands out is the need to be able to explain tech in layman’s terms at all stages of the journey and be willing to learn and adapt. Management, says David, is an entirely different ballgame to being an engineer. There should, however, be paths of progression in both fields: not all engineers want to be managers, but everyone needs the opportunity to grow regardless. Most importantly, the key is to focus on your journey so you’re always learning: don’t aim for a title just for the sake of it.

How do you know if you’ve done a good job as a leader? For David it means creating or overseeing processes that can run on their own. A manager should be able to go away for a few weeks and not have to deal with anything greater than answering emails. Ultimately, the route into tech, and subsequently management, is all about curiosity and communication: solving problems with technology to maximise efficiency and learning to convey why you’ve done so to stakeholders.

If you like what you hear, connect with David on LinkedIn or visit his website.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52225953Mon, 19 Dec 2022 12:46:56 +0000XebiaWelcome to Episode 4 of Tech Leaders’ Intel! This week we’re chatting to David Maidment, an experienced start-up CTO and Head of Engineering, with a great track record of spearheading digital transformation. Today, he talks to us about his...David Maidment, an experienced start-up CTO and Head of Engineering, with a great track record of spearheading digital transformation. Today, he talks to us about his unconventional route into his role, which began in a humble shoe shop. After touching on routes into technology, we turn to the journey from programming to management, the importance of making your team self-sufficient while giving them the right amount of support and being an effective salesperson for your trade.

What stands out is the need to be able to explain tech in layman’s terms at all stages of the journey and be willing to learn and adapt. Management, says David, is an entirely different ballgame to being an engineer. There should, however, be paths of progression in both fields: not all engineers want to be managers, but everyone needs the opportunity to grow regardless. Most importantly, the key is to focus on your journey so you’re always learning: don’t aim for a title just for the sake of it.

How do you know if you’ve done a good job as a leader? For David it means creating or overseeing processes that can run on their own. A manager should be able to go away for a few weeks and not have to deal with anything greater than answering emails. Ultimately, the route into tech, and subsequently management, is all about curiosity and communication: solving problems with technology to maximise efficiency and learning to convey why you’ve done so to stakeholders.

If you like what you hear, connect with David on LinkedIn or visit his website.]]>2892cto,engineering,leadership,technologyfalse4fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/communicating-culture-how-to-get-the-best-out-of-your-it-team--52099122Eoin Fleming, CIO of Carne Group. Eoin has around 25 years of experience in both general IT and security, predominantly in regulated industries. He’s here today to share his knowledge on an extremely important topic: ensuring your IT team is in tune with your company culture.

Working in the financial sector, Eoin acknowledges that there is one thing non-IT firms are often missing – an innate knowledge of the purpose of IT. This means a particular challenge that IT teams have is getting senior management to understand what IT can do in terms of digital transformation. Eoin likes to use a plumbing analogy: when things are working well, no one notices the plumbing and thinks any installation costs must have been unnecessary. But when the plumbing breaks, IT gets the blame, and senior management wonders what the money was spent on. This is why, Eoin says, the IT team must act as salesmen for their services at all times.

Eoin adds, however, that good communication works both ways – company culture must be communicated from above to the IT team: if development is misaligned with company culture it will fail. This is the running theme through all aspects of working in IT and Eoin talks us through negotiating mergers and acquisitions and making big changes to IT systems while avoiding costly failures. This brings us to his final point: making mistakes is part and parcel of a career in IT. The important part? Tell the truth when things go wrong, particularly to your manager. And as a manager, impart lessons learnt with your employees. As Eoin says: "Don’t turn your employees into you; turn them into a better version of you".

If you like the insights you heard from Eoin, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/52099122Tue, 06 Dec 2022 09:23:43 +0000XebiaIn the third episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel we’re joined by Eoin Fleming, CIO of Carne Group. Eoin has around 25 years of experience in both general IT and security, predominantly in regulated industries. He’s here today to share his knowledge on an...Eoin Fleming, CIO of Carne Group. Eoin has around 25 years of experience in both general IT and security, predominantly in regulated industries. He’s here today to share his knowledge on an extremely important topic: ensuring your IT team is in tune with your company culture.

Working in the financial sector, Eoin acknowledges that there is one thing non-IT firms are often missing – an innate knowledge of the purpose of IT. This means a particular challenge that IT teams have is getting senior management to understand what IT can do in terms of digital transformation. Eoin likes to use a plumbing analogy: when things are working well, no one notices the plumbing and thinks any installation costs must have been unnecessary. But when the plumbing breaks, IT gets the blame, and senior management wonders what the money was spent on. This is why, Eoin says, the IT team must act as salesmen for their services at all times.

Eoin adds, however, that good communication works both ways – company culture must be communicated from above to the IT team: if development is misaligned with company culture it will fail. This is the running theme through all aspects of working in IT and Eoin talks us through negotiating mergers and acquisitions and making big changes to IT systems while avoiding costly failures. This brings us to his final point: making mistakes is part and parcel of a career in IT. The important part? Tell the truth when things go wrong, particularly to your manager. And as a manager, impart lessons learnt with your employees. As Eoin says: "Don’t turn your employees into you; turn them into a better version of you".

If you like the insights you heard from Eoin, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.]]>3029cio,digital,financial,it,management,security,services,technology,transformationfalse3fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/want-to-introduce-a-four-day-week-in-your-tech-team-this-is-what-you-should-know--51821888
But does such a set-up really work? And how will you ensure business continuity following such a model? These are the questions we’re asking Graham Haythornthwaite in our latest episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel. Graham is the VP of Engineering at Wonde an ed tech company, developing and delivering software in a fast scaling team. Wonde has been piloting a 4-day week for the past six months, so Graham is well-placed to draw some firm conclusions about how the model works. in the tech industry.

From the importance of getting real value from meetings, to implementing the right tech in-house so employees can be as efficient as possible, Graham talks through everything from ensuring colleagues’ days off are respected to getting rid of interruptions and smoothing out teething problems.

Yes, there is a certain amount of planning, organisation and communication that is involved in running a business that operates five days a week while employees work four days, but it can be done, and according to Graham it definitely leads to happier teams!

So, what’s stopping your business?

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Graham on LinkedIn to chat further.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51821888Tue, 08 Nov 2022 09:17:47 +0000XebiaWhile the pandemic introduced businesses to the ‘hybrid’ model of working - with some time in the office and the rest in the home office, it’s clear that the post-pandemic development of this is the four-day working week. And no, that doesn’t mean...
But does such a set-up really work? And how will you ensure business continuity following such a model? These are the questions we’re asking Graham Haythornthwaite in our latest episode of Tech Leaders’ Intel. Graham is the VP of Engineering at Wonde an ed tech company, developing and delivering software in a fast scaling team. Wonde has been piloting a 4-day week for the past six months, so Graham is well-placed to draw some firm conclusions about how the model works. in the tech industry.

From the importance of getting real value from meetings, to implementing the right tech in-house so employees can be as efficient as possible, Graham talks through everything from ensuring colleagues’ days off are respected to getting rid of interruptions and smoothing out teething problems.

Yes, there is a certain amount of planning, organisation and communication that is involved in running a business that operates five days a week while employees work four days, but it can be done, and according to Graham it definitely leads to happier teams!

So, what’s stopping your business?

Want to continue the conversation? Connect with Graham on LinkedIn to chat further.]]>26564-day,cto,development,management,scaling,software,technology,workingfalse2fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/guiding-your-tech-team-through-growth-the-importance-of-communication-with-david-ives--51632953David Ives, about managing relationships and nurturing talent in a growing company. The key to building trust? For David, it all boils down to communication.

With over 20 years in the field of software engineering, in companies of all sizes across both the public and private sector, David has extensive knowledge of what it takes to manage both small teams of engineers and the entire tech function of a large organisation, from securing funding to taking on contractors, outsourcing, scaling and more.

In this episode, he talks about how growth can impact a teams culture, the value of augmentation, how to work out that you are joining the right company, and career progression both for yourself and your team members. As workforces go global, this has democratised what companies are trying to do, and it is more important than ever to invest in the people you work with through a policy of honesty and transparency, says David. We couldn’t agree more.
If you like what you hear, connect with David by following him on Twitter, or on LinkedIn.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/51632953Mon, 31 Oct 2022 15:05:52 +0000XebiaIt’s clear – we’ve seen some pretty major changes across almost every single profession in the last two years, and the global shift from office-based to remote working has put two key words at the forefront of every manager’s mind: autonomy and trust....David Ives, about managing relationships and nurturing talent in a growing company. The key to building trust? For David, it all boils down to communication.

With over 20 years in the field of software engineering, in companies of all sizes across both the public and private sector, David has extensive knowledge of what it takes to manage both small teams of engineers and the entire tech function of a large organisation, from securing funding to taking on contractors, outsourcing, scaling and more.

In this episode, he talks about how growth can impact a teams culture, the value of augmentation, how to work out that you are joining the right company, and career progression both for yourself and your team members. As workforces go global, this has democratised what companies are trying to do, and it is more important than ever to invest in the people you work with through a policy of honesty and transparency, says David. We couldn’t agree more.
If you like what you hear, connect with David by following him on Twitter, or on LinkedIn.]]>2893cto,growth,leadership,outsourcing,team,technologyfalse1full