Dondi Black, Chief Product Officer of Issuer Solutions at TSYS, to explore the transformative journey of innovation, cultural shifts, and emerging technologies in the payments industry. Dondi shares her insights from three decades in the field, discussing how her organization leverages synergies, empowers teams, and implements measurable strategies to drive innovation and transformation. The conversation dives into the practical applications of generative AI, privacy-enhancing technologies,...

In this episode of Leadership Exchange, host Rob Ocel chats with Jerry Reghunadh, Senior Director of Enterprise Architecture at Data Nimbus, about leadership, AI adoption, and data-driven decision-making. Jerry shares his career journey, insights on leveraging tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, and strategies for building effective data pipelines. They explore how companies can avoid "analysis paralysis," adopt AI strategically, and evaluate new technologies to solve real-world problems. Tune in...

In this episode of The Leadership Exchange, host Rob Ocel, VP of Innovation at This Dot Labs, sits down with Scott Roehrenbeck, CTO of Apptegy, for an in-depth discussion on leadership, process improvement, and the role of people in building effective teams. Scott shares insights from his 20+ years in tech, reflecting on the evolution of his leadership style, the importance of balancing process with flexibility, and how to support team autonomy while maintaining consistency. They also discuss...

Matt Biilmann, CEO and co-founder of Netlify, for an in-depth discussion about the company's incredible growth journey—from a bootstrapped two-person startup to a global platform serving over 5 million developers and powering sites for major companies like Unilever and Asana. Matt reflects on the key lessons he’s learned while scaling Netlify, including raising $212 million in venture capital and growing the team to 200 employees. He shares valuable insights on balancing day-to-day operations...

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, host Tracy Lee welcomes Jeremy Edberg, CEO of DeVos and former first employee at Reddit, to discuss leadership, engineering culture, and team building. They review Jeremy's career journey from Reddit to Netflix and beyond, sharing insights on scaling engineering teams, the impact of culture on development practices, and hiring strategies. Jeremy reflects on the evolution of his management style, emphasizing the importance of human connection in...

In this episode of the Leadership Exchange, Tracy Lee welcomes Anita Ballaney, Founder of MyHealthQ, to discuss the future of healthcare delivery models and the impact of technology. Anita discusses the evolution of care, from its community-driven roots to today's telemedicine and AI-driven advancements, while emphasizing the need for change in payment models that have long been stuck in outdated practices. They explore how AI can revolutionize healthcare by eliminating inefficiencies,...

Stacie Frederick, Chief Product Officer at Stanza, discusses how her engineering background informs her work in product management, particularly in understanding user needs and building solutions for Stanza, which focuses on improving reliability engineering for development teams. Stacie shares her approach to balancing the needs of current users with future growth, the importance of clear customer personas, and how friction can arise when product teams misalign with user goals. The...

Dr. Mike Saylor, CEO of Black Swan Cybersecurity and professor of cybersecurity at UT San Antonio, shares his journey from starting his first computer business to leading a successful cybersecurity company. He discusses entrepreneurship, the challenges of building and growing a business, and the importance of strong partner relationships. Along with Rob Ocel, he covers strategies for managing client relationships, navigating partner models, and balancing direct sales with...

Paul McCollum, author of "Practical Salesforce Architecture", shares his journey from microbiology to tech, discussing his work at Nortel Networks, and his transition into enterprise architecture with Salesforce. They explore the importance of empathy in engineering, how user-centric design motivates developers, and the evolution of agile development. Paul emphasizes solving real user problems over technical tasks and how continuous learning keeps work exciting. Chapters 1. Introduction –...

In this episode, Rob Ocel sits down with Gant Laborde, CIO at Infinite Red, to explore Gant's journey in the tech industry, his transition into leadership, and his role as a Chief Innovation Officer. Gant shares insights into the challenges and rewards of innovation within a company, how to manage upward and downward effectively, and the importance of trust in leadership. They also discuss the evolving landscape of AI, the significance of experimentation, and the courage needed to make bold...

Sam Julien, Director of Developer Relations at Writer, about the evolving role of developer relations. Sam shares insights on understanding developer needs and translating them into business goals, while also discussing the importance of bridging technical and marketing teams effectively. They explore the productivity and efficiency AI brings to Sam's work, showcasing AI tools like Writer, ChatGPT, and Co-Pilot for content drafting and coding. The conversation also covers the challenges of...

What is it like to transition from technologies to Fractional CTO? How much do systems matter when operating at the C Level? Ankur Jain, Fractional CTO and Founder at Sprout discusses the transition from being a technologist to a fractional CTO, and how to define and meet engineering KPIs. Ankur emphasizes the significance of systemizing and design thinking in problem-solving, stressing the need to understand customer needs and deliver effective solutions. He also highlights the value of...

Jimmy Jacobson, CTO at Codingscape, sits down with Tracy Lee to discuss engineering consultancy management and team organization. They talk about professional development, hype cycles, and the benefit of investing in social media and marketing both as an organization and as an individual. Sponsored by This Dot Watch this episode on YouTube Read more on our blog

Ivan Barajas Vargas, CEO and Co-Founder, at MuukTest discusses his journey from QA expert to engineering leadership, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changes in QA and effectively utilizing resources. Along with Rob Ocel, Ivan highlights the impact of AI technologies on effective QA testing, and the limitations of AI in understanding user experiences.  Sponsored by This Dot Watch This Episode on YouTube Read more on our blog  

Jan Zirnstein, Senior Data Science Director at Honeywell, talks about data governance, generative AI, and AI education with Rob Ocel. They discuss the importance of transparency and considering ethical considerations in AI applications like bias, while also highlighting the value of data quality, visibility, and understanding various AI mental models.  Sponsored by This Dot Watch this episode on YouTube Read more on our blog.

On this episode of the podcast, Rob Ocel and AD Slaton discuss agile software development and the importance of thorough documentation. They discuss the benefits of clear communication between technical teams and stakeholders, emphasizing the use of white papers, design documents, and user journeys. The conversation highlights how detailed documentation can enhance communication, reduce errors, and foster innovation. They also stress the need to strike a balance between flexibility and solid...

On this episode Rob Ocel and Tracy Lee interview Scott Budman, the Business and Technology Reporter at NBC Silicon Valley. They cover the state of the tech industry in Silicon Valley, exploring the cyclical nature of innovation and the impact of AI on search technology. They weigh the challenges of regulating rapidly advancing technology and the need for a balanced perspective on tech advancements. Additionally, they touch upon the evolving role of tech leaders, the unique ecosystem of...

Krystal Smith-Moore, Engineering Manager at Spotify, discusses the key elements of empathetic leadership and creating a supportive work environment. Krystal shares her journey from a non-traditional background to management, highlighting the importance of leadership skills, self-care, and seeking support. Along with Tracy Lee, she discusses the complexities of leadership in the tech industry, touching on hiring processes, emotional investment in building a team, and aligning personal values...

Rob Ocel and Brandon Tolbert explore the importance of employee engagement and talent retention in the telecom industry. They discuss the challenges of finding skilled personnel and the value of involving employees in decision-making. They also discuss an age-old hiring question: is it better to recruit new engineers and train them, or search for those with industry experience? Discover the benefits of continuous learning, mentorship, and employee development in fostering innovation and...

Joni Roylance and Jean Roberts discuss the complexities of implementing AI in organizations with Rob Ocel. They emphasize the importance of understanding cultural shifts, human context, and user perceptions for successful AI initiatives. From trust-building to interdisciplinary collaboration, they discuss key factors like alignment with organizational values and user-centric design as well as the significance of transparency, engagement activities, and early strategic planning in driving...

Daniel Chopson, Co-Founder of Cove.Tool discusses the importance of conducting productive retrospectives to drive team improvement and communication, while also highlighting the balance between planning and agility in a startup environment. Along with host Rob Ocel, Daniel covers Cove.Tool's transition from a sustainability-focused software company to a tech-powered consultancy, focusing on their AI-driven solutions for architects and engineers. Sponsored by This Dot Watch this episode on...

Leon Revill talks about how to build a culture of trust and collaboration among teams in an organization. They explore the idea of viewing mistakes as learning opportunities, stress the importance of open communication and collective accountability, and offer tips on combating blame culture and other phenomena that challenge organizational growth. Sponsored by This Dot Watch this episode on YouTube Read more on our blog

Revathi Pillai, Chief Engineering Officer of Mutualink shares her journey from engineer to manager and emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy for women in the workplace. She discusses the key elements of effective leadership in engineering, including clear communication, collaboration, and transparency. Revathi also explores the differences between product and engineering roadmaps, highlighting the need for balancing new features with maintenance for scalability and security, and the...

Join Rob Ocel as he talks with Lee Dash, SVP of Digital innovation at Medistrava, to explore the state of digital innovation in the pharmaceutical industry. Discover the challenges faced in enhancing user experience (UX) in a field dominated by traditional systems and the ongoing efforts to optimize the content supply chain. Lee also shares valuable insights on the importance of user testing and direct access to end-users for effective system development. Sponsored by This Dot Watch this...