The Story of Software: Recent Episodes
Zartis
Software is changing the world in many powerful ways. This podcast aims to understand the impact of software from an evolutionary perspective - what came before, what is now and what will be in the future. The Story of Software is a bi-weekly podcast looking at the people and technology that have transformed our world. It is hosted by Padraig Coffey, CEO of Zartis and historian by academic background.
Listen to Sam Sengupta, CEO of Finray Europe, on surgical market segmentation, building repeatable fintech products, and why clean data is the foundation every AI strategy depends on.
The Guest:
Sam Sengupta is the CEO of Finray Europe, a platform designed to automate complex financial operations for some of the world's largest institutions. His route into fintech leadership was shaped by three forces: an inquisitive, globally curious mindset, a personal decision to relocate to Ireland in 2006, and the influence of private equity investment cycles across the firms he has worked for. He began his career at Morgan Stanley, spanning London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and New York over a decade, before moving into fund services with Citco in Dublin, then into corporate services with TMF, and eventually into a series of Series A and Series B startups. That range — from global investment bank to early-stage venture — gave him a front-row view of how technology strategy changes at every stage of a company's growth.
In this episode, we move beyond high-level product-market fit theory and into the actual methodology Sam has used to find surgical entry points into financial services markets, build repeatable product blueprints, and frame ROI in a way that makes technology adoption feel non-negotiable rather than optional. The conversation also tackles the uncomfortable reality that data is still being ignored in most organisations, and why that makes the coming AI disruption far more abrupt than most incumbents expect.
Some of the episode highlights include:
- Why "spray and pray" is not just acceptable in early-stage startups — it is necessary, and how Finray's foundational data model makes pivoting between verticals faster than competitors expect
- Budget-back problem framing: finding the segment where the money already exists to solve the problem, rather than trying to create a new budget line
- Building a rinse-and-repeat product blueprint: why 80% of the product should be out-of-the-box, and how to protect that core from bespoke client requests
- The six-to-eight week data integration proof of value, and why the "wow moment" it produces is replacing multi-year consulting engagements
- Human-agent collaboration in financial services: why 99.9% accuracy is not good enough, and what "agent-ready" data infrastructure actually looks like
- The Kodak moment coming for fund administration and broader financial services, and why the organisations that wait until the fire is burning may already be too late
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Wesley Yu is the Head of Engineering at MetaLab, a product agency working with venture-backed startups at the intersection of design and technology. His route into engineering was non-traditional, starting in media studies and radio production before moving into content marketing at a tech startup in the early 2010s. That shift put him close to the ambition and pace of the Silicon Valley startup world, and eventually led him into a coding bootcamp, learning Ruby on Rails and finding a “maker” mindset through software. He has since spent over a decade building web and mobile products and leading engineering teams.
In this episode, we look at how each major software wave changes user expectations without fully replacing what came before. Wesley frames AI interfaces as arriving into a landscape shaped by mobile responsiveness, sensor permissions, and real time collaborative productivity tools.
Some of the episode highlights include:
- Why software “layers” expectations over time, and what mobile taught users to demand from AI products
- Designing for latency: keeping users oriented with streaming, status cues, and comprehension time
- Making context visible: what an AI agent can see, what tools it can call, and what safeguards exist
- Coding agents in practice: when multi agent output helps, and when it harms understanding and conceptual integrity
- The biggest interface problem in AI: reducing over trust by exposing sources, uncertainty, assumptions, and verification paths
Q: Where do you see the greatest long-term market value being generated, in AI-enhanced products or AI-enabled products built from scratch?
“I think there are two different ways to look at long-term value. One is where you get power-law winners, where a small number of companies capture an outsized share of value by creating an entirely new category. That is where AI-enabled products really shine. These are products that simply could not exist without AI at the centre of the value proposition. Things like autonomous driving, AI-native education platforms, or AI-first search fall into this bucket, and some of those companies may become category-defining businesses.
But if you zoom out and look at aggregate value across the economy, I think the clear winner is AI-enhanced products. These tools will diffuse across many existing productive sectors where value is already being created and captured. AI will sit in the middle of workflows people already use and amplify them. We already see this with developer tooling, like GitHub Copilot, or creative tools where AI is embedded directly into products like Photoshop or Premiere.
There is still a lot of innovation happening at the model and product level, but the bigger opportunity in the near to medium term is diffusion. People’s habits, skill sets, and organisational structures have not yet caught up with what the technology can do. Because of that, enhancing existing products and processes with AI is where I expect the largest total amount of value to be generated, even if the biggest individual winners may come from AI-enabled products.”
Listen to the Story of Software on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Adrian Sanchez de la Sierra, Head of AI & Innovation at Zartis, explores AI transformation, reimagining systems beyond replacement, and building production-ready AI.
The Guest:
Adrian Sanchez de la Sierra, Head of AI & Innovation at Zartis, works at the intersection of research, product, and real-world delivery. His background is deliberately unconventional. From film production and education technology to data science and machine learning, Adrian has spent his career connecting problems with solutions, often before the discipline around them formally existed. Today, he focuses on helping Zartis and our clients move beyond AI demos; into reliable, production-ready systems that deliver sustained value.
As we kick off season 5 of the Story of Software, the conversation centres on what true AI transformation actually looks like. Rather than viewing AI as a tool to replace existing processes, Adrian argues that its real value comes from reimagining how organisations operate altogether - and we couldn't agree more!
Drawing on historical examples such as electricity, power grids, and industrial transformation, he frames AI as a general-purpose technology that requires new mental models, new organisational structures, and patience to unlock its full impact.
Some of the episode highlights include:
- Why most organisations are still in the “replace” phase of AI adoption, and why reimagining systems is far harder but far more valuable.
- How historical technologies like electricity followed long, uneven paths before delivering transformational gains.
- The hidden gap between perceived and actual expertise in building production-grade AI systems.
- Why prompt-based AI development often leads to fragile products that fail silently in production.
- How coding agents and AI tools for non-developers could unlock major organisational productivity gains.
- The importance of leadership commitment, long-term thinking, and the right KPIs for transformational AI initiatives.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Sandra Trittin, Co-Founder and CGO of Beebop, discusses grid flexibility, consumer centric innovation, and scaling cleantech solutions.
The Guest:
Sandra Trittin brings more than a decade of cleantech leadership experience spanning energy flexibility, virtual power plants, and distributed energy innovation. After beginning her career in Switzerland’s telecommunications sector, she transitioned into energy with the founding of Tiko Energy Solutions. There she helped pioneer residential flexibility well before the market was ready. Today she is the Co-Founder and CGO of Beebop, an AI powered grid flexibility platform, and serves on multiple boards across the European energy ecosystem.
The Topic:
This episode explores the evolution of residential flexibility, lessons from scaling early stage energy platforms, and the market conditions that shaped the launch of Beebop. It also examines how Beebop approaches grid and trading optimisation, why consumer centricity remains a barrier, and what is required to accelerate adoption across global markets.
Some of the episode highlights include:
- Why early flexibility ventures struggled to find product market fit in the absence of market awareness and connected assets.
- The shift from technical proof points to commercial and consumer engagement challenges across the energy transition.
- How Beebop uses AI to optimise real time flexibility and integrate diverse sub VPPs into trading systems.
- What growing an international cleantech team requires during high growth phases.
- Why risk appetite, communication simplicity, and fact based information shape the pace of adoption.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Priya Mishra, Director of Technology at Carelon Global Solutions Ireland, shares a practitioner’s perspective on scaling innovation and preparing organisations for the future of work.
The Guest:
Priya Mishra is Director of Technology at Carelon Global Solutions Ireland, where she leads the design of transformative, cloud-native solutions that are reshaping healthcare systems. Honored with the Women in STEM – Technology award, she is passionate about people, culture, and reimagining how engineering teams work in the age of AI. With deep global experience in R&D, product development, and team leadership, Priya brings a practitioner’s perspective on scaling innovation and preparing organisations for the future of work.
Together, we unpack the move from rigid hierarchies to fluid, networked teams, the rise of “super generalists,” and why empowered experimentation, psychological safety, and observability matter more than ever. Priya shares her perspective on cognitive overload, the redefinition of software roles, and the real blockers to AI-enabled transformation - especially leadership reluctance and fear of failure. It’s a grounded, practitioner-led look at what the future of work actually requires, far beyond the hype.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- AI’s Impact on Team Culture & Ways of Working
- The Evolution of Roles: From Specialists to “AI Orchestrators”
- Managing AI Adoption: New KPIs & Leadership Challenges
- Training for the Future: New Literacies & AI Fluency
- Change Management & Transformation Strategy in the AI Era
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Richard Bell, Head of Engineering at CoinShares, shares insights on how to successfully lead large-scale transformations and motivated teams.
The Guest:
Richard Bell is a seasoned technology leader with deep experience in financial services and large-scale transformations. Over his career, he has led major projects in organisations such as large international banks, building and scaling teams across geographies while tackling some of the toughest technology and organisational challenges.
Richard joins us to talk to us about how to successfully lead large-scale transformations and build motivated teams.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- What makes large-scale transformations succeed or fail
- How to build and motivate teams over long, tough programs
- The mix of personalities and skills needed for big transformations
- Leadership philosophy and hard choices as a manager
- The impact of AI on software work and careers
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Chris Bernkopf, CEO of Podero, shares how they help utilities optimise energy use and offers advice on growing in the cleantech sector.
The Guest:
In this episode, we are joined by Chris Bernkopf, Co-Founder and CEO of the Austrian energy flexibility startup, Podero. With a background that spans physics, edtech, and electric mobility, and experience at CERN and Y Combinator, Chris brings a rare mix of scientific insight and entrepreneurial drive to the clean energy sector. Under his leadership, Podero develops software that helps utilities optimise device control, trade energy more efficiently, and reduce costs and emissions.
Chris shares how the rise of renewables is transforming the way we consume and manage power, and why this shift demands smarter, more adaptive systems. He reflects on his journey from physics and Y Combinator to tackling one of the biggest challenges in climate tech, discussing how technology, markets, and user behaviour are converging to accelerate the clean energy transition. The conversation delves into Europe’s evolving energy landscape, the business and climate benefits of flexibility, and what it takes to build resilient solutions in a sector shaped by regulation and rapid change.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The shift in energy flexibility focus
- Podero's three-part business model
- The "Positive Flywheel" of decarbonisation
- Building resilient solutions in a sector shaped by regulation and rapid change
- Advice on overcoming sector overwhelm
Listen to the Story of Software on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Lee Provoost, CTO at Flagstone, talks about his journey growing into technical leadership, from leading high-stakes projects while learning on the job, to navigating imposter syndrome and finding his footing as a leader.
The Guest –Lee Provoost, CTO at Flagstone
Today we are joined by Lee Provoost, the CTO at Flagstone, a UK-based Fintech company helping clients get better returns on their savings. In this episode, Lee reflects on his journey growing into technical leadership, from leading high-stakes projects while learning on the job, to navigating imposter syndrome and finding his footing as a leader.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Non-linear path to CTO
- Learning on the job & being “comfortable with being uncomfortable” —
- Startup vs. corporate reality
- Leadership self-care & transparency
- AI’s impact on product engineering
Q: In your leadership journey, have you ever experienced imposter syndrome? If so, how do you deal with it?
"Yeah, it’s something that lingers in the back of your mind all the time, but it lessens over time. I still feel it quite regularly, but I remind myself that I got this role because I clearly bring something to the table and the people around me have recognized that. It’s also why, three years later, I’m still the CTO of this business—you need to remind yourself of that regularly.
When I ran my own business many years ago, I printed a meme as a massive poster in the office: a Labrador sitting at a keyboard with the caption, ‘I have no idea what I’m doing.’ I did it to normalize that none of us really knows everything—we’re all learning.
Surround yourself with good coaches or mentors, and with peers on your leadership team. It can be lonely, and occasional validation from peers—‘that was a great job’ or ‘you handled that well’—definitely helps"
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, we’re joined by Ali Elgamal, EVP and CTO at Tamara, one of Saudi Arabia’s three fintech unicorns and a market leader in the buy now, pay later (BNPL) space.
The Guest: Ali Elgamal, EVP and CTO at Tamara
Ali takes us through his journey that led to Tamara, sharing his leadership philosophy, strategies for building top tech talent, and insights into navigating BNPL in a regulated environment. He also offers his vision for the transformative role of AI in the future of fintech.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Career journey and experience
- Hypergrowth challenges and lessons learned
- Leadership and talent strategy
- Cultural and regional differences in tech
- AI and the future of software development
Q: With AI, how do you see software development changing over the next four or five years?
"When it comes to AI and software development, I see it as something that will significantly improve developer experience and productivity. It will become a standard expectation that engineers have AI support. I also foresee a fundamental shift in how some solutions are designed and built. For example, you mentioned agents and MCPs. We are already experimenting with MCPs internally — we’ve created our own agent that is used for debugging. If someone has an issue, such as understanding what’s happening with a specific order, the agent gathers data from different internal sources and produces an analysis, like: the customer exceeded the debt burden ratio allowed by the regulator, and so on. This fundamentally changes how we work. Software that was once designed in a very traditional way — service-oriented, REST APIs, microservices architecture — will gradually shift to being more agent-based. It’s only a matter of time, and I’ve already seen systems being built in this way.
I’m not just talking about the obvious use cases, like agentic workflows or IDE assistants, because everyone is experimenting with those. The real change will come from a deeper shift in software design and architecture, and I believe that’s where we’re heading."
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Discover the current and future state of the renewable energy sector with Brenda Park, COO of the ground-breaking Scottish energy storage business, StorTera.
The Guest:
Brenda is a seasoned operations leader with a PhD in Physics and over a decade of experience in the renewable energy sector. As COO and Director at StorTera—an Edinburgh-based energy storage innovator—she has been instrumental in building and leading the company’s core team of scientists and engineers, propelling the development of groundbreaking Single Liquid Flow Battery (SLiQ) technology and the StorAI platform
Brenda’s expertise spans agile project management, renewable systems, and the commercialization of innovative energy storage solutions, making her a key force in advancing the mission towards a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The Problem of Wind and Solar Curtailment
- Limitations of Lithium-Ion Batteries
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Practices
- Community Energy Projects and AI-Enhanced Smart Grids
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jad Sayegh, Co-Founder & CTO at Sarwa, joins us to reflect on his journey in building Sarwa and how his role has evolved as the company has matured.
The Guest:
Jad Sayegh is Co-Founder & CTO at Sarwa, a leading fintech company in the UAE that is transforming wealth management with accessible, technology-powered investment solutions.
In this episode, Jad reflects on his journey from telecoms and high-speed trading in Canada to launching Sarwa in Dubai, and how the company has evolved from a prototype to a one-stop investing platform. He shares insights on building for a new market, navigating regulation, attracting and retaining global talent, and how his role as CTO has shifted as Sarwa scaled to 100+ people. We also touch on the challenges and opportunities of innovating in a fast-moving Fintech ecosystem, and the leadership lessons Jad has drawn from mentors and books along the way
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The Origin Story of Sarwa
- Pioneering Regulatory Change in the UAE
- Building and Retaining Talent in a Transient Market
- The Evolution of the CTO Role
- Customer Feedback, Product Coherence, and Experimentation
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Kevin shares his journey from founding engineer to senior leadership, reflecting on the challenges of transitioning from hands-on coding to enabling teams and departments to succeed.
The Guest:
Kevin Holditch is VP of Engineering at Form3, a leading provider of payment infrastructure powering real-time, secure transactions for banks and Fintech companies worldwide.
We discuss Form3’s cloud-native payment infrastructure, the balance between innovation and regulatory demands, and their deliberate approach to hiring top-tier talent globally, even pre-COVID. Kevin highlights the company’s engineering achievements, including a multi-cloud platform capable of processing payments seamlessly across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, and offers insights into scaling remote teams, nurturing internal leadership, and maintaining job satisfaction.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Transition from Engineer to Leader
- Building a Multi-Cloud Active-Active-Active Payment Platform
- Hiring Philosophy & Talent Strategy
- Operating in a Regulated Financial Environment While Staying Innovative
- Impact and Caution Around AI in Software Development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Philip Gill, CTO at Smartbox Group, speaks about his experience in leading globally distributed blended teams.
The Guest:
Philip Gill has over a decade of experience in cultivating high-performing multinational software teams. He is now the CTO at Smartbox Group, a European leader in experience gifting, offering curated travel, dining, and adventure packages across multiple countries.
Phil shares the evolution of his career from QA engineer to CTO, and the operational philosophies that have shaped Smartbox’s growth. He discusses the company’s blended team model, the importance of cultural fit, building trust across borders, and how rigorous processes have enabled major software rollouts under pressure. Phil also offers a grounded view on the current and future impact of AI in software development, highlighting both its promise and its hype.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Building and Leading Globally Distributed, Blended Teams
- Culture-First Hiring and Team Psychology
- Cycle Time and Quality Engineering Metrics
- Practical View on AI in Software Development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Molly Webb,Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo, shares her 20+ year journey at the intersection of digital innovation and climate action.
Molly Webb is the Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo, with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology and climate policy. She works to accelerate inclusive energy transitions by supporting startups, shaping policy, and enabling data-driven financing for electrification. Her focus spans demand-side flexibility, urban decarbonization, and creating tangible climate impact beyond tech hype.
Molly shares the origins and evolution of Energy Unlocked’s mission to empower Cleantech startups and influence policy, and how that work led to Peerco; a venture tackling the challenge of financing small-scale urban decarbonisation projects through innovative use of energy attribute certificates. From city farms in London to solar projects in Lagos, Molly offers a grounded perspective on the realities of system change, the need for robust verification in carbon markets, and the importance of collective action as we push toward 2030.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The Origin Stories of Energy Unlocked and Peerco
- Inclusive Energy Transition & Urban Decarbonization
- Making Behind-the-Meter Interventions Financially Viable
- Tech Industry’s Ethical Role
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jorge Belenguer, Head of Software Engineering and Data at BWT Alpine F1 Team, joins us to talk about the role of software in an F1 team, how the industry has evolved, and how software can be used as a competitive advantage for racing teams.
The Guest :
Jorge Belenguer has over 15 years of experience in the software industry, 10 of which has been spent working for Formula 1 teams. He is now the Head of Software Engineering and Data at BWT Alpine Formula One Team.
With over a decade in F1, Jorge shares how software powers everything from car design to race strategy, and how it serves as a crucial competitive differentiator, even in a sport dominated by mechanical engineering. He explains why the F1 software ecosystem is so unique, how data and AI are shaping the future of racing, and what kind of tech talent thrives in this high-speed, high-stakes environment. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, motorsport fan, or just curious about the intersection of elite sport and software, this episode delivers insight at full throttle.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Role of software in F1
- Competitive edge and secrecy in hiring
- Software as a strategic investment vs. the car
- Use of AI and simulations due to on-track limitations
- Cultural fit in F1: Startup vs. corporate mentalities
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Michael Zucker, VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, joined us today to discuss some of the parallels in coaching athletes vs software engineers.
The Guest:
Michael Zucker is a software executive with over 20 years of experience in the field. Today, he is the VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, a platform offering exclusive discounts and deals from top brands to students, as well as providing student verification services to the likes of Apple, Meta and other large companies. In addition to this, he has also successfully coached ice hockey teams for the same amount of time throughout his career.
In this episode, Michael joins us to explore the parallels between coaching athletes and managing software engineering teams. Michael shares insights from his unconventional career path, highlighting the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and a growth mindset in leadership roles. Listen in as we discuss how effective feedback, clear strategies, and genuine care for individual growth are crucial whether you're on the ice or in the office.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Parallels Between Coaching Athletes and Managing Engineers
- The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
- Why Great Engineers (or Athletes) Don’t Always Make Great Managers
- Feedback Culture: Athletes vs. Engineers
- Future Trends in Software Development (Beyond AI)
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Craig Hughes, CTO at Nas Neuron Health Services, speaks about the role and importance of emotional intelligence in tech leadership.
The Guest:
Craig Hughes is a software executive with over 20 years of experience in leading large scale digital transformations, mainly in the banking sector. He is now the CTO at Nas Neuron Health Services, UAE's largest group of health insurance third-party administrators.
In this episode, Craig dives deep into the critical role of emotional intelligence in tech leadership, drawing on lessons from his global career and personal experiences, including pivotal moments of insight. From defining what emotional intelligence looks like in engineering teams to the pitfalls of promoting purely on technical merit, this conversation explores how empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills shape effective leadership, team cohesion, and organisational health in today’s tech landscape.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Tech Leadership
- How to Identify Future Leaders
- Technology, Isolation, and the Decline of EQ
- Building EQ Without Frameworks
- The Future of Software and the Loss of Fundamentals
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Oliver Spragg, Advisor at Postera Capital and the ex-CTO of Plan A, talks about the growth of the company, from technical architecture and team structure to strategy and culture.
The Guest:
Oliver Spragg is an Advisor at Postera Capital, and the previous CTO of Plan A, which enables global brands such as BMW, KFC, and Visa to measure, report, and reduce their emissions. Over the last 5 years, he led the engineering organisation at Plan A through a period of rapid growth, shaping everything from technical architecture and team structure to strategy and culture. He’s especially interested in applying machine learning principles to build high performing teams and drive operational excellence.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The evolution of a CTO's role in startups
- The pitfalls of over-optimising metrics
- Building high-performing engineering teams
- AI’s role in measuring and enhancing developer experience
- The future of software development: from code to domain expertise
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Eric Matteson, CTO at Accurx, talks about his career history and rebooting a company’s culture.
The Guest :
Eric Matteson is a seasoned engineering executive with over 25 years of industry experience. He is now the CTO at Accurx, a company dedicated to optimising communication between healthcare professionals and patients.
In this episode, we interview Eric, who shares his dynamic 25-year career journey from early leadership roles at Microsoft, Amazon, Blizzard and several startups before joining Accurx. Eric discusses his leadership approach to building effective cultures, highlighting that every company requires a unique blend of principles tailored to its people, product, and context—rather than simply replicating past playbooks.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Cultural Challenges & Rebooting Culture at Accurx
- Adapting Leadership Principles to Fit the Organization
- Re-architecting Systems & Cultural Change
- AI’s Role in Engineering & the Future of Work
Listen to the Story of Software any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Larsen Mabika, CEO & Co-Founder at Maiven, talks about the journey that led him to co-found his company, and the challenges and opportunities he sees in climate tech.
The Guest:
Today’s guest is Larsen Mabika, the Co-Founder and CEO of Maiven, an AI-powered platform that helps businesses navigate the rapidly changing world of climate policy. With a background in data and carbon markets, Larsen brings a unique perspective on how technology can cut through the noise, highlight risks and opportunities, and help organizations stay ahead in the sustainability space.
In this episode, we’ll explore the journey that led him to co-found Maiven, the challenges and opportunities he sees in climate tech, and how AI is shaping the future of policy-driven decision-making.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Navigating the overwhelming pace of climate policy change
- The origins of Maiven: insights from working in carbon markets
- The power of combining diverse expertise in Maiven’s leadership
- Unlocking opportunities through climate policies
- Harnessing ai for timely, global insights
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marko Maunula, CTO at BeeHealthy talks about the importance of having diversity in software teams.
The Guest:
Marko Maunula is the CTO at BeeHealthy, a Helsinki-based healthcare company providing digital tools to make patient care more accessible and efficient.
In this episode, Marko shares insights from decades in tech leadership, reflecting on how to build high-performing, diverse teams in a regulated industry. From aligning organisational structure with product strategy to balancing compliance-minded engineers with boundary-pushing innovators, Marko offers a candid look at what makes teams click and where things can go wrong.
We also explore the ethical and technical challenges of embedding AI in healthcare, the realities of hiring for complexity, and why a little internal friction might be exactly what a strong team needs.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Intentional Team Diversity
- Balancing Speed and Compliance
- AI Integration in Healthcare
- Hiring Philosophy and Process
- The Role of Conflict in High-Performing Teams
- Mixed Reception of AI Co-pilots in Engineering
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jerry Randall, Founder of Wind Pioneers, talks about how Wind Pioneers are leveraging technology to power the future of clean energy.
The Guest:
In this episode, we explore the transformative world of wind energy, site optimization, and sustainable development with Jerry Randall, the Founder of Wind Pioneers. Based in Bangalore, Wind Pioneers has redefined wind farm design and prospecting, offering innovative solutions to emerging markets across Southeast Asia, Africa, and beyond.
Jerry shares his inspiring journey from a small town in Norfolk to leading global wind projects, driven by a passion for sustainable energy and strategic site identification. He dives deep into the challenges of scaling wind energy in new markets, the changing role of geography in site selection, and how Wind Pioneers are leveraging technology to power the future of clean energy.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- International wind and Cleantech market exploration
- Emerging markets as the focus for wind energy
- Technological advancement that enabler the use of more clean energy resources
- Wind Pioneers’ software solutions—Windquest and Windcheck
- Future of renewable energy and grid challenges
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marcus Wang, Partner at Coda Global Ventures, talks about advising companies in venture capital and global market entry in multiple sectors.
About The Guest:
Marcus Wang is a Partner at Coda Global Ventures, his expertise lies within helping early-stage companies scale, and mature companies optimise for successful exits. He also co-founded and exited ZytoGen, a precision medicine company, and launched Under Armour’s operations in China. Most recently, he worked with a venture studio to commercialise cutting-edge technologies in sustainability and materials science, and is currently advising multiple companies in venture capital and global market entry in multiple sectors. In the public sector, Marcus is also a State Health Commissioner for Maryland, bridging public and private interests to drive societal impact.
About The Topic:
Marcus brings a global and cross-sector perspective to scaling companies, driving innovation, and aligning stakeholder incentives. We explore the realities of tech transformation in both early-stage startups and legacy enterprises, how to assess and modernise tech stacks for maximum ROI, and why AI isn’t replacing people; it’s empowering them. From hands-on team interventions to future-proofing through culture and capability, this conversation is a masterclass in operational excellence.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Role of an Operating Partner
- Challenges and Successes in VC and PE
- Assessing and Optimizing Technology in Portfolio Companies:
- AI Integration and Future of Work:
- Team Building and Performance Optimization
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Denis Canty, Senior Director of Software Development at VelocityEHS, talks about his career history, scaling teams and the future economics of software development.
The Guest and Topic:
Denis Canty is an accomplished technology leader with vast experience in multinational and startup environments. He is now Senior Director of Software Development at VelocityEHS, a leading provider of environmental, health, and safety software solutions.
Denis joins us to talk about his career history, scaling teams and the future economics of software development.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Global Team Scaling and Cultural Nuances
- Outsourcing and the Evolution of Strategic Partnerships
- The Economics of Software & Metric-Driven Development
- Low Code / No Code Tools & AI as a Software Equalizer
- Shifting Developer Roles and the Future of Software Composition
Listen to the Story of Software on any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Omar Halabieh, Director of Software Development at Amazon, talks about personal development as a leader.
The Guest:
Omar Halabieh is a global technology executive with over 20 years of experience in tech leadership. As Director of Software Development at Amazon, he leads the Technology function for payments across the Middle East and Africa. Throughout his career, Omar has delivered award-winning transformational initiatives that have created competitive advantage, enabled business growth, and exceeded customer expectations.
In this episode, he shares a compelling journey through two decades of tech leadership - from early days in the energy sector to scaling Amazon Payments Services in the Middle East. With a focus on personal and professional growth, Omar unpacks his servant leadership style, the value of mentorship, and how to adapt leadership strategies across cultures and team dynamics. He also explores the necessity of continuous learning—highlighting communication and generative AI as current development priorities—and the importance of redefining success to include well-being, intentional reflection, and sustainable impact as a leader.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Leadership style and evolution
- The importance of mentorship
- Situational leadership and wearing “multiple hats”
- Personal development through reflection
- What success means as a leader
- GenAI and leadership relevance
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Amin Manzouri, Founder & Managing Partner of Axis Growth Advisory, talks to us about Value Creation in the M&A processes.
The Guest:
Amin Manzouri is Founder & Managing Partner of Axis Growth Advisory, a strategic advisory firm with a focus on value creation through strategy, enterprise-wide transformation and strategic M&A. He is a senior level transformation leader and operating partner with over 17 years of experience gained from working for some of the world's leading organisations such as Bank of America, JPMorgan, PwC, Accenture and KPMG. He also holds an MBA from London Business School and joins our podcast to talk about portfolio value creation in the investor market.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The 60-30-10 value creation framework
- Low-hanging fruit in SaaS value creation
- Importance of culture in value creation
- The role of technology and AI in efficiency & scale
- Exit planning from day one
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Tarvo Õng, Founder and CEO of Fusebox, talks about his career history, founding Fusebox, and navigating rapid growth in the energy sector.
The Guest:
In this episode of The Story of Software, we dive into the world of virtual power plants, energy flexibility, and clean tech innovation with Tarvo Õng — Founder and CEO of Fusebox. Based in Estonia, Fusebox has grown from a local disruptor to a pan-European leader in helping businesses optimise energy consumption and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Tarvo shares his personal journey into clean tech, the challenges of expanding across diverse energy markets, and his mission to build a cleaner, more resilient energy future. Whether you’re curious about demand response, AI in energy, or the geopolitical shifts reshaping the grid — this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The Concept and Impact of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)
- Behind-the-Meter Energy Flexibility and Commercial/Industrial Use Cases
- Navigating Diverse Energy Markets and Regulatory Environments
- The Role (and Hype) of AI in Energy Management
- Founding Motivation and Long-Term Vision for Clean Tech
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Shane Lynn, CEO and Founder of EdgeTier, talks about his career history, founding EdgeTier, and navigating rapid growth.
The Guest:
Shane Lynn is the CEO and Founder of EdgeTier, a company providing advanced AI-driven solutions for businesses to automate and optimise customer service operations. Today he joins us to talk about his career history, founding EdgeTier, and navigating the rapid growth his company went through.
Growth, AI, and Strategy:
In today’s fast-paced tech landscape, growth doesn’t just happen — it’s engineered. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, the most successful companies are those that can balance innovation with intentional strategy. Growth powered by AI isn’t just about adopting the latest tools — it’s about knowing when to scale, how to structure your teams, and where to apply intelligence for the greatest impact.
Whether you're leading a startup, building a product team, or rethinking your company’s direction, understanding the interplay between growth, AI, and strategy is essential. In this episode, we explore how forward-thinking companies are leveraging AI to drive smarter decisions, streamline operations, and stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.
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Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Kenneth Munson, CEO and Founder of Rhythmos, talks about the critical role of grid edge technology in the rise of e-mobility, and the innovative solutions Rhythmos is developing.
The Guest:
Kenneth Munson, is the CEO and Founder of Rhythmos, a company at the forefront of optimising EV charging costs on the grid. Today, we'll delve into his journey, the critical role of grid edge technology in the rise of e-mobility, and the innovative solutions Rhythmos is developing to harmonise the growing demand for electricity with our existing infrastructure.
Modernising the Grid for the EV Era:
In this episode, we explore the evolving landscape of clean energy and the technologies driving smarter, more sustainable power systems. From the rise of grid edge technology and virtual power plants (VPPs) to the growing importance of dynamic grid optimisation, we discuss how the energy sector is adapting to meet the demands of a decarbonised future.
We also discuss the growth of EVs, the increasing adoption, and the impact on energy flexibility, and the ongoing challenges like price sensitivity, system-wide adoption lag, and infrastructure readiness.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Grid optimisation & grid visibility problems
- Virtual power plants (VPPs) and derms evolution
- Time-of-use pricing vs. dynamic grid optimisation
- Use of AMI (advanced metering infrastructure) data for aggregated load forecasting
- Challenges and misconceptions in early cleantech adoption
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Peter Kisel is the CTO & Co-Founder of Finlay, an AI-driven talent management platform. Today he joins the podcast for the second time, the first being in September 2022. This episode will cover the changes Peter has experienced over the past 2 years including co-founding a startup and the role of AI in recruitment.
Co-Founding a Startup in the Age of AI-Driven Recruitment:
Co-founding a startup is both exhilarating and challenging—especially when it comes to building the right team from the ground up. As AI technology rapidly evolves, it has the potential to radically transform how startups identify and recruit their most valuable asset: talent. In this episode, we explore the early-stage experiences of launching a company, the hurdles involved in securing venture capital, and why AI-driven hiring platforms are poised to eliminate the inefficiencies, biases, and frustrations so often associated with recruitment. Whether you’re a founder, tech enthusiast, or just curious about the future of work, read on to discover how AI can revolutionize the way we build and scale startups.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Co-founding a startup & career transition
- AI in recruitment
- Raising Venture Capital (VC) funding
- Bias in AI & ethical hiring
- Staying innovative with AI
Listen to the Story of Software any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jordan Brompton, Co-founder and Board Director at myenergi, talks about her career journey leading up to managing a multinational cleantech business.
The Guest:
Jordan Brompton is a Co-Founder and Board Director at myenergi, cleantech entrepreneur, angel investor and all-round green force of nature. From humble beginnings to leading a multinational cleantech business, Jordan's story is one of passion, and perseverance. Jordan is a pioneer in smart home energy technology, empowering consumers to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs.
The Power of Energy Independence:
In the ever-evolving landscape of cleantech, few stories stand out as boldly as that of Jordan Brompton, Co-Founder of myenergi and a true innovator in the push towards a greener future.
In the first episode of The Story of Software: Cleantech Creators, Jordan shares insights into her entrepreneurial path, the challenges of scaling a business in the renewable energy sector, and the misconceptions surrounding EVs and green energy. She also speaks about the importance of decentralising energy, empowering consumers to take control of their own power sources, and breaking stereotypes in an industry historically dominated by men.
Jordan’s perspective challenges the status quo and highlights why clean tech is not just an environmental necessity, but also an economic and practical shift that benefits everyone.
Listen to the Story of Software any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Anatolii Zotin, Executive VP of Software Development at Exinity, talks about his career history, his experience in merging 2 tech teams into 1 and bridging the gap between engineering and business.
The Guest:
Anatolii Zotin is the Executive VP of Software Development at Exinity, a global fintech company offering innovative trading and investing products for emerging markets. Today he joins us to talk about his career history, his experience in merging 2 tech teams into 1 and bridging the gap between engineering and business.
Bridging Tech and Business: Aligning Innovation with Strategy:
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, the gap between technical teams and business stakeholders can lead to misalignment, missed opportunities, and inefficiencies. While engineers focus on building scalable, reliable solutions, business leaders prioritize speed, market fit, and ROI. The key to success lies in effective communication, shared goals, and a collaborative mindset. In this episode, we explore strategies for bridging the gap between tech and business, ensuring that innovation aligns with strategic objectives for long-term growth.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Bridging the Gap Between Engineering and Business
- Building and Managing High-Performing Teams
- Challenges of Team Formation and Collaboration
- The Role of Team Augmentation in Scaling Development Teams
- The Impact of AI on Software Development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Andre Carlucci, CTO at Lepaya, talks about his career history and his views on culture and creating a learning environment in tech teams.
The Guest:
Andre Carlucci co-founded and was the CTO of Way2 Technology for 15 years. He has also been a Microsoft most valuable professional for almost a decade and he is still part of the Microsoft Director Program. Currently, he works as the CTO for Lepaya, a leading learning and development platform delivering personalised employee training experiences.
Fostering a Learning Environment in Tech Teams:
In the fast-evolving world of technology, continuous learning isn’t just an advantage—it’s a necessity. In a recent episode of The Story of Software podcast, Andre Carlucci, CTO of Lepaya, shared his insights on building a strong learning culture within tech teams. Drawing from his experience leading engineering teams across startups, large enterprises, and consulting firms, Andre highlighted the importance of creating an environment where knowledge-sharing, upskilling, and adaptability are embedded in the company’s DNA.
From pair programming and coding dojos to structured mentorship and company-wide alignment on learning objectives, fostering a culture of learning drives both individual and business success. But what are the key ingredients to making this work?
Some highlights of this episode include:
- The Value of Pair Programming in Knowledge Sharing and Collaboration
- The Role of Engineering Alignment Meetings in Team Growth
- Why a Product Mindset is Essential for Developers
- Tracking and Measuring Learning to Align with Business Goals
- How Company Culture Shapes a Strong Learning Environment
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jassim Munir, the Head of Software Engineering at Moove, talks about the role of mindset, both from a leadership and team perspective.
The Guest:
Jassim Munir is the Head of Software Engineering at Moove, a global mobility Fintech company that provides revenue-based vehicle financing and financial services to mobility entrepreneurs. His expertise lies in leading cross-functional engineers, building high performing teams, and optimizing engineering processes. Jassim is here today to talk about mindset, both from a leadership and team perspective.
The Power of Mindset in Software Engineering and Leadership:
Success in software development goes beyond writing great code; it requires the right mindset. Whether you're an engineer aspiring to lead or a hiring manager building a strong team, how you think, adapt, and approach challenges is crucial.
In a fast-evolving industry, a growth mindset fosters problem-solving, innovation, and resilience. For engineers, this means embracing learning and challenges. For leaders, it’s about empowering teams and creating a supportive environment.
In this episode, we explore how mindset plays a pivotal role in career transitions, hiring decisions, and navigating challenges in the fast-paced world of software development.
Some highlights of this episode include:
- Transitioning from Individual Contributor to Leadership
- The Role of Mindset in Software Development Success
- Hiring for Mindset Rather than Just Skills
- Navigating High-Pressure Situations & Tight Deadlines
- Servant Leadership as a Core Management Philosophy
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode of the Story of Software podcast, we’re joined by Jack Godau, CTO at VRR Consulting and a digital evolution expert with over 24 years of experience in driving transformation. Jack specialises in helping organisations bridge the gap between business goals, strategy, and technology, enabling them to thrive in today’s rapidly changing digital landscape.
Jack discusses the vital role of culture, values, and vision in shaping successful teams and organisations. He explains how culture is defined by actions, while values are what teams say they stand for, and why these need to align for true success. Jack also shares his insights on how leaders can ensure their vision resonates with and inspires their teams, particularly as businesses scale and evolve.
Drawing from his work in both large corporations and startups, Jack highlights the importance of fostering a shared understanding of company values and using practical steps like workshops and consistent reinforcement to ensure alignment. He also discusses how to measure culture’s impact on performance, using tools like employee surveys and feedback mechanisms.
Join us as Jack shares leadership lessons and offers resources for navigating the complex relationship between culture, values, and vision in today’s fast-moving tech world
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Matt Dalton, VP of Engineering at Finimize, shares how to be impactful as a small team, how Finimize thinks about product, and ways in which AI is impacting how they work.
The Guest:
With 15 years of experience in hands-on and leadership roles within the software industry, Matt Dalton oversees the development of Finimize’s finance platform designed to empower one of the largest retail investor communities in the world.
The Topic: Resourcefulness and Maximising Impact
Fostering ownership and curiosity within teams is essential to building a culture of empowerment and continuous learning. Encouraging engineers to suggest solutions, while educating the organisation on tools like no-code platforms, helps create an environment where teams can thrive and innovate.
One quote from Matt encapsulates this philosophy:
“We (at Finimize.com) really believe in taking smart people, giving them the context of what problems we’re trying to solve, and letting people figure it out.”
Here are some of topics covered in this episode:
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Maximising Impact in Small Teams
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The Role of AI in Finimize
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Product Development Philosophy
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Kevin Roche, Co-Founder & CTO at Wellthy, talks about leading a mission-driven company, a shift in founders management styles, and AI in care technology.
The Guest:
Kevin Roche is the Co-Founder & CTO at Wellthy, a care technology company that provides personalised caregiving support alongside an innovative platform to help families manage their care needs from birth through bereavement—tackling healthcare logistics, care coordination, childcare and eldercare, and administrative tasks for loved ones.
Leading with Purpose: Balancing Impact, Innovation, and Mission:
In today’s competitive landscape, building a mission-driven company requires more than just a vision—it demands steadfast commitment to the impact you want to create. Kevin shares insights into navigating this journey, from early startup challenges to becoming a thriving enterprise.
Kevin emphasises that technology, including AI, should enhance rather than replace human connections in caregiving. At Wellthy, the focus remains on empowering care teams to foster meaningful, empathetic relationships with families, while AI handles administrative burdens. This approach ensures that the company remains anchored to its purpose: supporting caregivers and their loved ones during life's most challenging moments.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Transition from startup to an established company
- Mission-driven business vs. profitability
- Advice for entrepreneurs starting mission-driven companies
- Vision for AI in the future of care.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Sergey Katsev, VP of Engineering at Catchpoint, talks about his career in technology and the challenges that come with working in internet resilience.
The Guest:
Sergey Katsev is the VP of Engineering at Catchpoint, a leading platform that ensures the resilience, reliability, and performance of the internet and digital services. Sergey has 15+ years of experience in the network infrastructure and monitoring industries, developing and supporting many products, and networking technologies. He joins us to talk about his career in technology and the challenges that come with working in internet resilience.
The Backbone of the Digital Age: Internet Resilience
In a world driven by digital services, internet resilience is crucial. It ensures systems remain operational despite disruptions like hardware failures or cyberattacks. With the rise of remote work and cloud computing, businesses rely on distributed systems, increasing complexity and vulnerability. Key metrics like uptime, MTTR, and DORA metrics help measure resilience. AI further enhances stability, with predictive AI anticipating failures and generative AI aiding response times.
In today’s fast-paced environment, resilience isn’t optional—it’s a necessity for maintaining seamless operations and safeguarding business continuity.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- The Evolution of Career Paths
- The Role of Customer Success in Organizational Integration
- Challenges of Internet Resilience and Remote Work
- AI’s Role in Software Development and Operational Efficiency
- Key Metrics for Measuring IT and Business Success
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Eoin Boylan, Head of Engineering at Evervault, talks about achieving product-market fit for their product, and the current state of education on payments security and compliance.
The Guest:
Eoin Boylan is Head of Engineering at Evervault, a company trusted by businesses all over the world to secure and enhance their payments stack. Eoin has almost 15 years of experience in the software development industry and has been leading the engineering team at Evervault as a Founding Engineer, which gives him unique insights to refining product development and achieving product-market fit. Eoin joins us to talk about pivoting your product, hiring at Evervault, and the current state of education on payment security and compliance.
Pivoting your Product and Achieving Product-Market Fit:
In the fast-paced world of tech startups, finding product-market fit, building a resilient company culture, and staying on top of complex compliance requirements are no easy feats. In this episode, Eoin Boylan shares an inside look at how his company Evervault has tackled these challenges head-on. From pivoting its product focus to address pressing security needs in fintech and payments to cultivating a transparent, high-accountability culture, Evervault’s product development and commercial journey offers valuable lessons for tech leaders.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Pivoting a Product and Achieving Product-Market Fit
- The Role of Compliance in Payment Security
- Hiring Strategy for Startups
- Challenges in Startup Growth and Scaling
- Transparency in Company Finances and Culture
- AI Integration in Payment Security
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Tariq Said, Founder and CEO at Amp, talks about the challenges that come with founding an energy analytics company.
The Guest:
Tariq Said is the Founder and CEO at Amp, an energy analytics startup on a mission to help businesses transform their buildings into intelligent & efficient spaces. Tariq joins us to talk about the challenges that come with founding an energy analytics company, from both technological and geographical perspectives, and the future in this space.
Innovation in Energytech:
The energy sector is experiencing rapid innovation, transforming how we generate, store, and consume power. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind, combined with advancements in energy storage, are becoming key to sustainable power solutions. Technologies like artificial intelligence, smart grids, and blockchain are enabling more efficient and decentralized energy systems, optimizing distribution and reducing waste.
As demand for cleaner, more resilient energy grows, these innovations are driving a future where renewable energy is reliable, accessible, and integral to the global power grid. The future of energy is smarter, greener, and more sustainable.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Challenges of Founding an Energy Analytics Company
- Evolution from Solar Development to Energy Analytics
- The Role of IoT and Energy Data
- Market Growth of Energy Management Systems
- Future of Energy Efficiency and Innovation
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
David Ronan, Founder & CEO at RoEx, talks about the role of AI in professional music production and some of the controversy that has risen in this space as a result.
The Guest:
David Ronan is the Founder & CEO at RoEx, an innovative company harnessing the power of AI to streamline and enhance the creative process for musicians at all levels.
How Generative AI is Revolutionizing the Industry:
In today’s episode, we dive into one of the most exciting frontiers in music: Generative AI. From creating new sounds to assisting with complex production tasks, AI is rapidly transforming the music industry. But with this innovation comes both opportunities and challenges. Join us as we explore how AI-driven tools are helping musicians of all levels streamline their creative process, the ethical debates surrounding AI-generated music, and the potential of this technology to redefine the future of music production.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Challenges of Music AI Integration in Legacy Systems
- The Ethical Dilemmas in AI Training Data
- The Rise of Generative AI in Music
- The Future of Music Creation
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
The Guest – Michał Węgrzyn, Head of Engineering at PhysitrackMichał Węgrzyn is the Head of Engineering at Physitrack, a cloud-based patient engagement solution used by 80,000+ healthcare practitioners around the world with over 7M patients. With over 10 years of experience in different leading roles, Michał is here today to talk about transitioning into engineering management, and his thoughts on innovation, and AI adoption within healthcare, and more specifically, the patient management services.
Innovation in Patient Engagement: The Role of AI in Revolutionising Healthcare
In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, patient engagement has emerged as a key factor in improving outcomes, reducing costs, and enhancing the overall patient experience. As healthcare systems around the world grapple with challenges like staff shortages, increasing demand, and the complexity of chronic conditions, innovation in patient engagement is not just a necessity but a critical driver of future success. At the forefront of this transformation is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is reshaping the way healthcare providers interact with and support their patients.
From AI-powered virtual assistants that streamline patient communication to intelligent platforms that personalise treatment plans, AI is enabling a new era of patient-centric care. This shift towards digital, data-driven solutions is not only increasing the efficiency of healthcare providers but also empowering patients to take a more active role in their own health journeys. In this article, we’ll explore how innovative AI solutions are transforming patient engagement, the challenges that come with integrating these technologies, and what the future holds for AI in healthcare.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Big Company vs. Startup: Finding the Right Fit
- Hiring and Managing Engineering Teams for High Performance
- Building and Maintaining a Strong Company Culture
- AI Integration and Its Role in PhysiTrack’s Future
Q:Moving into the management side of things, and now that you're managing teams, how do you drive performance?
"I think that it all starts with hiring great people. It's so much easier when you have the freedom to invest in proper hiring interviews, find people who have technical skills, but mainly they have the right attitude and want to do things. Like, if you have people who optimise for getting stuff done, managing them is so much easier.
And this is also related to letting people go. It's one of the most difficult parts of leadership, but one bad performer can ruin the whole ecosystem and the team’s health. So it's important to optimise for that. And once you have great people, it gets so easy. It's just like playing; you just have to set priorities.
From there, just make sure that people know what they're supposed to do. If you have high performers, like in my current engineering team, where there are so many great performers, my role is more about telling people to chill and relax and not burn out, rather than making sure they do what they’re supposed to. Because they already do what they’re supposed to do, and even more than we would like, occasionally. So, as always, it's complicated."
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Robert Meaney, Senior Director of Engineering of ABC Glofox, talks about his experience being a tech leader, the fundamentals of happy teams, and how to focus on your product's users.
The Guest – Robert Meaney, Senior Director of Engineering at ABC Glofox
Robert Meaney is the Senior Director of Engineering at ABC Glofox, a company dedicated to powering the fitness industry with digital solutions in over 60 countries. Previously, he has held positions as Head of Testing, Test Manager, Automation Architect and Test Engineer with companies of varying sizes, from large multinationals like Intel, Ericsson & EMC to early-stage startups like Trustev.
The Power of Happy Teams:
In today’s fast-paced tech world, building high-performing teams and delivering user-centric products are two sides of the same coin. At the heart of successful teams lies one simple principle: happy teams drive high performance. Creating an environment where team members feel empowered, supported, and focused leads to not only greater productivity but also more innovative and high-quality products. But how do you cultivate this happiness and channel it toward meaningful user outcomes? It starts with a culture of trust, reducing noise, and allowing teams to focus on what matters most. By aligning your team’s happiness with a deep understanding of your product’s users, you create a cycle of continuous improvement, where happy teams deliver exceptional results, and satisfied users drive the success of your business. In this post, we’ll explore the fundamentals of building happy teams and how that focus can translate into products that truly resonate with your users.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Building a Generative Culture for Team Success
- The Shift from Testing to Quality and Beyond
- Measuring Performance Through DORA Metrics
- Challenges of Managing Technical Debt in Startups
- The Role of Happy Teams in Driving High Performance
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Peter Orlovacz, CTO at Lemune, talks about how the software profession has evolved, as well as the differences in varying organisations.
Lemune, the largest grocery delivery company in Iraq. Peter is here today to talk about his unconventional path to becoming a tech leader, how the software profession has evolved, and the differences working in large organisations vs startups.
From Coders to Innovator - The New Era of Software Development:
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the role of the software developer is undergoing a significant transformation. Gone are the days when developers were primarily tasked with writing lines of code in isolation. Today, they are expected to be versatile, adaptive, and well-versed in an array of tools and technologies. With the advent of Generative AI, this shift is becoming even more pronounced, introducing new paradigms that blend creativity with automation.
Generative AI is not just another buzzword; it's a game-changer reshaping how software is built and maintained. By automating repetitive tasks, suggesting code, and even generating entire frameworks, AI is expanding the boundaries of what developers can achieve. As a result, developers are moving away from traditional coding roles to become problem solvers, strategic thinkers, and innovators within their organisations.
In this episode, we'll explore how the role of software developers is changing in tech companies, the skills they now need to succeed, and the impact of emerging technologies like Generative AI on their day-to-day responsibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned engineer or just starting your career in tech, understanding these shifts is crucial to staying ahead in this dynamic field.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Henrik Lundgren, CTO at Capture Energy, talks about the state of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and the future in this space.
The Guest – Henrik Lundgren, CTO at Capture Energy:Henrik Lundgren is the CTO at Capture Energy, a forward-thinking energy storage solutions company focused on optimising battery systems through the use of data. Henrik is here today to talk about the state of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and the future in this area of sustainable energy solutions.
Harnessing the Power of Battery Energy Storage for a Sustainable Future:As the global energy landscape rapidly shifts towards renewable sources, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has proven to be very useful in ensuring grid stability and optimising energy use.
In this episode, we explore the cutting-edge developments in BESS technology, focusing on the integration of AI and machine learning to enhance battery performance and longevity. We'll delve into the advancements in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, the complexities of the ancillary services market, and the challenges faced by the industry as it navigates through an era of rapid growth and innovation. Join us as we uncover how companies like Capture Energy are pioneering solutions that will shape the future of sustainable energy.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- The role of AI in optimising battery energy storage systems
- The volatile market of ancillary services for battery systems
- Challenges and opportunities in this emerging industry
- The future of large-scale battery energy storage across Europe
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Kristian Mørk Puggaard, CEO at Tembi, talks about the rise of prescriptive intelligence, its real life application, and his predictions for the future.
The Guest – Kristian Mørk Puggaard, CEO at Tembi:
Kristian Mørk Puggaard is the CEO at Tembi, a Copenhagen-based market intelligence platform that combines data and expertise from multiple industries to create tailored analytics and intelligence for any business.
Unlocking the Future: The Power and Potential of Prescriptive Intelligence
In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, prescriptive AI is emerging as a game-changer for businesses across various industries. Unlike traditional analytics, which focus on what has happened (descriptive) or what could happen (predictive), prescriptive intelligence goes a step further by providing actionable recommendations on what to do next. This advanced form of data analysis leverages the power of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and vast amounts of data to deliver insights that drive strategic decision-making and operational efficiency.
From optimising supply chains and enhancing customer experiences to transforming marketing strategies and revolutionising healthcare, the applications of prescriptive intelligence are both diverse and impactful.
Some highlights in this episode include:
- Prescriptive intelligence: the future of decision-making
- Harnessing external data for comprehensive market insights
- Examples of market intelligence revolutionising businesses
- Cutting sales noise: mastering lead qualification with data
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Tom Early, Head of Funding & Scaling Solutions at Enterprise Ireland, talks about the current state of the Irish investment landscape, how investor requirements have changed, and the key areas that companies seeking funding should focus on.
The Guest – Tom Early, Head of Funding & Scaling Solutions at Enterprise Ireland:Tom Early is Head of Funding & Scaling Solutions at Enterprise Ireland, the Irish government's enterprise development agency that helps private businesses grow. Tom is here today to talk about the current state of the Irish investment landscape, how investor requirements have changed, and the key areas that companies seeking funding should focus on.
Navigating the Evolving Irish Investment Landscape for Business Success:
In recent years, the Irish investment landscape has undergone significant transformations, reflecting broader global economic shifts and evolving investor priorities. As the head of Funding and Scaling Solutions at Enterprise Ireland, Tom provides an expert overview of these changes.
In this episode, we delve into the current state of investment in Ireland, the evolving demands of investors, and the critical areas that businesses should prioritise to secure funding and scale successfully.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- Navigating the Irish investment landscape: current trends and key focus areas for companies
- Strategies for securing funding: preparation, engagement, and negotiation tips for founders
- The importance of an ambitious and market-focused mindset for irish entrepreneurs
- Lessons from failure: the value of persistence and learning in startup success
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
The Guest – Krenar Muhidini, Director of Software Development at EMLKrenar Muhidini is the Director of Software Development at EML, a global payments solutions platform. Krenar is here today to talk about the unique challenges that come with running a payments technology company, and the modernisation of legacy systems in this domain.
Transforming Transactions: The Journey to Modernizing Legacy Payment SystemsIn today's fast-paced digital landscape, the payments industry faces unprecedented pressure to innovate while adhering to stringent regulatory standards. Legacy payment systems, once the backbone of financial transactions, now pose significant challenges to agility, scalability, and security. As FinTech companies strive to stay competitive and meet evolving customer expectations, modernizing these outdated systems has become not just an option, but a necessity.
This article delves into the complexities and opportunities associated with updating legacy payment technology. We'll explore the technical debt accumulated over years of incremental updates, the delicate balance between maintaining compliance and fostering innovation, and the strategic steps FinTech companies can take to streamline their systems.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- Tackling the challenges of the payments industry
- Strategies for fostering transparency and communication in remote team
- Simplifying legacy systems for future success in fintech
- How emerging technologies are revolutionising fintech
What are the biggest obstacles FinTech companies face when attempting to modernise their legacy systems?
I would say that the accumulation of unnecessary complexities and technical debt over time is a major obstacle, not just for FinTech companies but for other corporates as well. Legacy systems often grow organically, evolving to meet immediate needs without considering long-term scalability or maintainability. As a result, they contain redundant code, outdated technologies, and processes that become difficult to work with in an agile and innovative space. One of the most crucial steps in modernization is recognizing that not all components of legacy systems are necessary, which requires support from the business. Many FinTech companies find themselves burdened by a significant amount of code that no longer serves a purpose or aligns with current business objectives. In fact, it's estimated that up to 80 percent of the code in large enterprises is unnecessary. To overcome this obstacle, an assessment of the legacy system is required to identify redundancies and inefficiencies within the systems or codes. This includes identifying applications that are no longer needed or those that are overly chatty with each other. Simplifying the system by removing these complexities and technical debts enables the organization to focus more on core functionalities that align with their future strategy.
Listen to the Story of Software on:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marek Krysiuk, CPO at Checkturio, talks about the role of AI in product development, and the intertwining relationship between product and engineering.
The Guest – Marek Krysiuk, CPO at Checkturio:
Marek Krysiuk is the CPO at Checkturio, an AI-powered SaaS solution designed to efficiently manage fleet assets end-to-end. Marek is a Product Leader & Technologist with expertise in the application of software and artificial intelligence (AI) across various industries such as mobility, logistics, automotive, advertising. His experience encompasses leadership positions in both Engineering and Product domains within several technology companies.
The Synergy of AI, Product Development, and Engineering
In today's fast-paced technological landscape, AI is playing a pivotal role in reshaping how products are developed. The integration of AI into product development processes is not only enhancing efficiency but also transforming the dynamics between product and engineering teams within organisations, fostering a more collaborative and intertwined relationship.
As AI continues to evolve, its role in product development and the collaboration between product and engineering teams will only become more integral. Embracing this synergy can help organisations stay competitive, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional products in an increasingly complex market landscape.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- The transition from engineering to product management
- Challenges and innovations in predictive maintenance
- Impact of LLMs and AI on user experience design
- Balancing technological innovation with market needs
- Evolving roles and dynamics between product and engineering teams
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Alex Woodham, the CTO at Net Purpose, talks about the mindset of a startup, how the startup decision process compares to a mature company, and how the VC world has changed the game.
The Guest - Alex Woodham, CTO at Net Purpose
Alex Woodham is the CTO at Net Purpose, a London-based company that provides a platform to help investors launch, grow and report on sustainability and impact funds. Alex has over 10 years of experience in the software industry, working across many startups and larger enterprises, which gives him great insight into how different organisations operate.
Venture Capital: Transforming Startup Mindsets and Driving Entrepreneurial Success
Venture capital has reshaped the game for startups, ushering in an era of unprecedented access to funding that has not only fueled their growth, but also heightened expectations for innovation and rapid development. Join us in this exploration as we delve into the mindset of a startup, navigating its unique challenges and opportunities, while drawing comparisons to established corporate practices.
Together, we'll uncover the transformative impact of venture capital, dissecting its pivotal role in driving entrepreneurial success and shaping the future landscape of innovation. Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- Startup Mindset:
- The Role of Venture Capital
- AI in Software Development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Tim Duckett, CPTO at Flagship Founders, talks about his experience in building software startups and what it takes to get your venture off the ground.
The Guest – Tim Duckett, CPTO at Flagship Founders:
Tim Duckett is the CPTO at Flagship Founders, a Berlin-based company builder that partners with ambitious founding teams to build agile and scalable solutions for the global maritime market. Tim helps turn product teams’ dreams into engineering reality through years of hands-on experience across the full agile software development lifecycle. He has deep expertise with a diverse range of tech stacks from front-end mobile to backend systems, and 20 years of experience in building, scaling and shaping teams and companies.
Sailing Through Software Startup Success: Navigating the Uncharted Waters of Innovation:
Embarking on the journey of building a software startup is akin to setting sail on uncharted waters, where every wave presents both challenges and opportunities. In this episode, we delve into the dynamic world of software entrepreneurship, exploring the essential elements required to navigate the turbulent seas of innovation and bring your venture to fruition.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- How Flagship Founders, is revolutionising the Maritime Industry
- The Thrill of Building software systems from scratch.
- Scaling Strategies for Company Expansion
- AI's Role in Software Engineering
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Éric Värnild, VP of Engineering & AI at Paretos, talks about the importance of trust in software development, both internally and externally.
The Guest – Éric Värnild, VP of Engineering & AI at ParetosÉric Värnild is the VP of Engineering & AI at Paretos, a company providing the leading forecasting and optimization technology for controlling complex supply chain processes. Éric has 30+ years of experience in the software engineering industry and worked in many startups and global companies. He graduated in AI, UX and advanced programming in 1992, before it was hype.
The Backbone of Collaboration: Trust in Tech CompaniesIn the intricate ecosystem of tech companies, trust permeates every facet of operation, from the relationships between colleagues to the bond between consumers and products. It's the invisible thread that weaves together teams, fosters innovation, and underpins the very essence of a company's identity. While, trust between colleagues cultivates an environment of transparency and empowerment, trust within a company's culture drives organisational resilience, and ultimately shaping the trajectory of success in the competitive landscape of the tech industry.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- Way to create trust in the workplace
- How trust impacts the capacity and performance of a team
- The future of software development in the AI-powered world
Listen to the Story of Software on:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Leeanna Pitt, CPO at Gener8, talks about her experiences in scaling product management from early stage companies through to growth, exit and beyond.
The Guest - Leeanna Pitt, CPO at Gener8:
Leeanna Pitt is the CPO at Gener8, a London-based company that empowers users to understand, control and be rewarded for their data. Previously she led the product department and successfully scaled and exited “We Got Pop” backed by Octopus Ventures, and following the acquisition of WeGotPOP by Entertainment Partners, Leeanna moved into the role of SVP International Product, where she led product globalisation to further territories and acquisitions.
Scaling Product Management: Strategies and Challenges:
Product Management today is a critical aspect of tech companies, that bridges the gap between business strategies and customer needs, but what does it take to start your product management journey on the right foot?
First of all, it is important to start with a deep understanding of the business goals and align the product strategy accordingly. One of the critical challenges in scaling is ensuring that product management does not devolve into a mere delivery function but remains a strategic collaborator within the organisation. The misconception that product management is just about churning out features can inhibit its true potential to drive the business strategy through an effective product roadmap and meet both business goals & user needs.
If utilised and empowered correctly, product management can function as the strategic engine of a business, capable of translating market needs, technical feasibility, and user requirements into a coherent strategy that aligns with the organisation's objectives.
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This episode is a treasure trove for anyone involved in or interested in the intricacies of product management. Her journey illustrates the significance of strategic thinking, the challenges of scaling, and the future potential of AI in shaping product strategies across industries. For further insights and inspiration, tune into this compelling episode of Story of Software.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Aine Buckley, Director of Engineering, ERP, at the Access Group talks about Mergers & Acquisitions, having been part of an acquired business and now being on the acquiring side.
The Guest: Aine Buckley, The Access Group:
Aine Buckley is the Director of Engineering for ERP at the Access Group, one of the largest providers of business management software to small and mid-sized organisations in the UK, Ireland, the US and APAC. Aine is leading a global team of over 280 engineers across a wide technology stack and is responsible for over 20 products.
Aine is here today to talk about the M&A process and managing the transition within teams. Having been part of an acquired business and now on the acquiring side, it’s fair to say that she’s gained invaluable experiences along the way.
Navigating the Mergers and Acquisitions Landscape:
Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) are a key strategy for businesses to expand their reach, resources, and market share. But what exactly are mergers and acquisitions, and are they a guaranteed path to success? Aine Buckley helped us explore the different types of deals, the potential benefits and drawbacks, as well as the factors companies consider before taking the plunge.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- The experience and process of being acquired
- How to adapt your leadership styles to different company sizes and situations
- The influence of company culture
- Integration processes and employee impact in M&A
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Allan Noer, CTO at Agreena, talks about the mission that drives his work at Agreena, and the lessons learned during the company's growth trajectory.
The Guest – Allan Noer, CTO at Agreena:
Allan Noer, is the CTO at Agreena, a Copenhagen-based company providing a platform that supports farmers in their transition to regenerative agriculture by issuing third-party verified carbon certificates. Allan is a technology leader with wide knowledge and expertise in innovation, scalability, fintech, development processes, and developer experience.
The Intersection of Technology, Business, and Purpose:
In the ever-evolving landscape of business, the intersection of technology and purpose has become a pivotal point of discussion. This convergence not only shapes how companies operate, but also influences their impact on society and the planet. In fact, a clear sense of purpose not only attracts talent but also serves as the guiding force in decision-making, particularly in the tech sector where rapid advancements often outpace ethical considerations.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- How to foster a culture of innovation to drive progress and stay ahead in the tech industry
- The need for tech companies to prioritise societal impact and responsibility alongside financial success
- The development and adoption of sustainable technologies to address environmental challenges
- Use of technology as a tool for promoting equality and empowerment
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Nick Verkroost, CEO at Canopy, talks about the current state of the procurement software industry and his predictions for what’s next in this space
The Guest – Nick Verkroost, CEO at Canopy:
Nick Verkroost is the CEO at Canopy, an innovative supplier relationship management platform that gives procurement teams complete visibility of their supplier data and eliminates manual administration. With over 10 years of experience setting up and growing B2B technology companies, Nick has worked with organisations of all sizes to assess blind spots in their operational execution and organisational growth.
The Strategic Significance of Procurement Tech in Modern Business:
In the modern business landscape, technology procurement plays a pivotal role in enabling organisations to effectively acquire the necessary tools and resources to support their operations. While the market was once dominated by a handful of major players, the landscape has shifted dramatically over the last decade, giving rise to the rise of a new industry - Procurement Tech. These emerging entities are dedicated to addressing specific challenges within procurement processes, such as supplier relationship management and administrative automation.
The spotlight on Procurement Tech is intensifying, with a growing emphasis on data-driven solutions and the transformative potential of AI. This paradigm shift heralds a new era in procurement, where advanced analytics and AI algorithms promise to revolutionise operational efficiency and decision-making processes.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- Common challenges faced in procurement
- The evolving landscape of Procurement Tech
- Why companies need procurement software
- The use of AI in the Procurement Tech
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Laura Tacho, CTO at DX, talks about successful cross functionality between engineering and product teams, including roadmapping and identifying value for your business.
The Guest - Laura Tacho, CTO at DX:
Laura Tacho is the CTO at DX, a developer insights platform built specifically for leaders of internal developer productivity and/or platform teams. Laura is also an engineering leadership coach, partnering with software engineering leaders to level up their leadership skills.
Understanding Software Teams to Achieve Smooth Collaboration:
Integrating engineering and product roadmaps is crucial to avoid misalignment and competition between engineering priorities and business objectives. A unified approach ensures that both engineering issues and business priorities are evaluated by the same criteria, facilitating decision-making that benefits the overall business.
A big part of this equation is developer productivity, but measuring it effectively is a challenging task. Traditional productivity metrics are no longer cutting it, and it is important for companies to prioritise developers' voices and experiences, moving beyond conventional metrics like lines of code, or number of commits, which can be misleading. By involving developers in the structuring of metrics, companies can enable Improved workforce happiness, retention, and a culture of self-improvement.
Some of the highlights in this episode include:
- The intersection of engineering and product teams
- The importance of developer productivity
- Strategies and metrics for assessing developer productivity
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
István Kovács, CTO at Recart, talks about the role of AI in text marketing, and how companies change their marketing strategies in the lead up to Black Friday.
The Guest - István Kovács, CTO at Recart:
István Kovács is the CTO at Recart, a Budapest-based text marketing company that manages your SMS marketing through the use of AI. István has over 15 years of experience working in software development and leading teams in various domains, including e-commerce, banking, insurance, and airlines.
AI SMS Marketing and More:
Imagine you're walking through the bustling streets of Budapest, your phone pings with a perfectly timed, personalised text message about a sale on those sneakers you've been eyeing. This isn't just a coincidence; it's the result of sophisticated AI-driven text marketing, a rapidly evolving field that's changing the way businesses connect with customers.
From the humble beginnings of simple email tools to the cutting-edge use of SMS and AI, István's insights offer a rare glimpse into the future of e-commerce marketing. Tune in as we explore how personalised messaging is not just about selling products, but creating meaningful connections in our digital age.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Industries that leverage SMS marketing the most
- Customer targeting and benchmarking for outreach
- The power of personalisation in SMS marketing
- How AI can enhance SMS marketing technologies
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Brit Myers, VP of Engineering at System Initiative, talks about her experiences in improving business outcomes through DevOps practices.
The Guest - Brit Myers, VP of Engineering, System Initiative:
Brit Myers is the VP of Engineering at System Initiative, a collaborative power tool designed to remove the paper cuts from DevOps work. Brit is a technology leader with over a decade of experience leading and scaling global engineering teams, and is passionate about implementing powerful DevOps strategies to improve software teams and business outcomes.
How DevOps Can Make or Break Your Team:
Implementing a successful DevOps strategy can unlock the true potential of a software team and help companies adapt to agile ways of working. However, many companies, regardless of their size or status, fall into common traps when it comes to incorporating DevOps principles into daily practices. These include, but are not limited to, slow feedback loops, difficulties in collaboration due to abstractions and handoffs, and the struggle to balance automation with necessary control. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to understand risk tolerances within an organisation to facilitate change and to take a more experimental and iterative approach in adopting DevOps principles.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Strategies and best practices for adopting DevOps
- Challenges in DevOps practices across different organisation sizes.
- System Initiative's innovative approach to improving DevOps.
- The potential impact of AI on software teams
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
David Lush, an experienced CTO with 19 years of experience, talks about two pivotal areas in scaling teams: attracting and retaining tech talent.
The Guest - David Lush, CTO:
David Lush has held leadership roles in the software space for over 19 years, and he specialises in scaling software teams. Having worked with international market giants such as Visa, as well as technology startups, David has experience enabling teams of all sizes to thrive and grow.
How To Attract and Retain Engineering Talent:
In the ever-evolving world of technology, the challenge of attracting and retaining top talent is more critical than ever. Companies are not just competing for skills; they're vying for individuals who can drive innovation and adapt to rapidly changing environments.
So, today, attracting the right talent goes beyond offering competitive salaries. It's about understanding what motivates individuals, their career aspirations, and their fit within the company culture. Similarly, retention is as much about the environment as it is about the role. It's crucial to create a workplace that offers growth, challenges, and a sense of purpose. For tech professionals, opportunities to work on interesting projects, continuous learning, and a flexible work environment can be more appealing than traditional incentives.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The current state of the tech labour market
- Strategies for hiring at different stages of a business
- Key factors for employee retention
- Enabling career growth for your employees
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Alexander Safonov, CTO at Visualfabriq talks about his experience in scaling the company, and the complex process of revenue forecasting using Artificial Intelligence.
Alexander Safonov is the CTO of Visualfabriq, an innovative company providing revenue forecasting and optimisation software to its customers in the consumer-packaged goods industry. Alexander is an experienced CTO with a proven track record of 20+ years in engineering high-tech solutions within security and fintech domains. He specialises in leading diverse cross-functional teams across product, technology, and innovation fronts.
Scaling A Company and Maturing an AI Product:
AI is a pivotal tool in software development, offering automation and efficiency at every stage – from idea generation to user communication. Companies that leverage AI successfully, and incorporate AI functionalities into their products and services stand to benefit from increased customer satisfaction and high growth.
With their innovative approach to revenue forecasting that leverages AI to analyse customer data, sales history, and financial information, Visualfabriq is a great example of such companies.
Some of the main topics covered in this episode include:
- Lessons learned in scaling a tech company
- Strategies for scaling a technology product
- The growing role of AI in software engineering
- Applications of AI in data processing and forecasting
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Lisa Schnettler, an experienced CPO with 15+ years of experience, talks about her career in product management, and the lessons learned while leading teams through significant transformations.
The Guest - Lisa Schnettler, Chief Product Officer:
Lisa Schnettler is an experienced Chief Product Officer with over 15 years of experience as a technology product development and management leader. Lisa specialises in building diverse teams, transforming organisations, and driving revenue through effective digital technology solutions. Having worked in organisations ranging in size, locations, and culture, Lisa brings extensive insights in how product management works across different organisations.
The Road to Successful Product Transformation:
The complexities of product management and leading a team through a big transformation requires careful planning, transparency, and ethical considerations in the development process - especially when incorporating emerging technologies like AI in today’s world.
There are many factors that can make or break a transformation journey, but among the most important ones is getting your team’s buy-in. And that involves constant communication and getting their buy-in at different steps of the process, as expectations and reality are rarely a perfect match.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Understanding the reasons behind the need for change
- Key requirements for a successful transformation
- The biggest challenges in product development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Ivar Conradi Østhus, CTO and CPO at Unleash, joins us to talk about his experiences when creating Unleash, and lessons learned on the route to efficient software development.
The Guest - Ivar Conradi Østhus, CTO and CPO at Unleash:
Ivar Conradi Østhus, is the Chief Technology and Product Officer at Unleash, an open-source feature management software, built with large enterprises in mind. Ivar has 15 years of experience in the software world and has worked in many leading technical roles before creating Unleash.
How to Achieve Efficiency in Software Development:
Efficient software development is a journey still in progress for many organisations. While the transition to DevOps and automation is well underway at a larger market level, many challenges remain, particularly across larger enterprises. A transformation in mindset and processes is essential to achieving efficiency in software development in terms of adopting agile processes. Efficiency in software development revolves around the ability to change and improve software quickly.
Some of the other topics covered in this episode include:
- How to simplify the SDLC process
- How to accelerate feedback loops and agile cycles
- How to use AI for efficient software development
Resources on Efficient Software Development:
Recommendations by Ivar on valuable resources for those aspiring to enhance their software development knowledge:
- The Phoenix Project: A captivating introduction to DevOps, shedding light on its importance in business success.
- Accelerate: A book that summarises years of DevOps reports, providing insights into metrics and practices for efficient software development.
- Skin in the Game by Nassim Taleb: Emphasising the significance of aligning incentives with outcomes in the software development world.
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Meet Ricky Hill, Commercial Director at Zartis, who joins the Story of Software as our new co-host!
Ian Brady, Head of Talent Acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom, talks about global market trends, the impact of AI, and the evolving demand for skilled talent in the tech industry.
The Guest - Ian Brady, Head of Talent Acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom:
Ian Brady is the head of talent acquisition for EMEA & APAC at Zoom, the household name for video conferencing. Ian has extensive experience in remotely leading talent acquisition teams within multinational corporations across the globe.
The Current and Future State of the Tech Labour Market:
Contrary to what the headlines might suggest, the tech industry has weathered many storms, and it's not just surviving; it's thriving. Despite the so-called recession, when we look at the data, job opportunities are still outpacing available talent by a considerable margin. Especially, when we look at the booming sectors within tech such as AI - the demand for engineers is skyrocketing. So, is the tech industry truly recession-proof? What secrets lie behind its resilience during economic downturns?
Some of the topics covered include:
- The effects of global economic conditions on the tech labour market
- How certain sectors and regions experience more growth than others
- The increasing demand for AI-related skills
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Radhika Åberg, CTO at Fundler, joins our podcast to talk about her career path, and the challenges she has faced as a technology leader.
Radhika Åberg is the CTO at Fundler, a Stockholm-based company that provides a platform allowing private investors to manage their savings portfolios. Radhika is a leader with over 20 years of IT experience in product development, infrastructure and IT management. She has deep expertise in the Fintech industry, and in building high-performing software departments in close alignment with business goals.
Establishing Yourself As A Leader:
Entering a new organization as a senior tech leader or Chief Technology Officer (CTO) is exciting, yet, it's not without its challenges. The first hurdle often faced is winning over the tech team. These seasoned professionals have likely been working together for some time, and they might be wary of change. To succeed in this role, it's crucial to balance your technical input with effective leadership skills. Showing respect for the team's existing knowledge and expertise, and focusing on creating an environment that encourages collaboration and empowers team members to contribute are key. By building trust, demonstrating your commitment to their growth, and aligning your vision with the company's goals, you can overcome initial skepticism and lead your tech team towards new heights of innovation and success. However, this is only one of the many challenges a leader might face.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Establishing yourself as a leader in a new company
- Changing leadership style over the years
- The challenges of tech leadership
- Being the bridge between business and technology
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Sebastian Stadil, CEO at Scalr, talks about his experience navigating through the undulating tech sector, and the changing fortunes of the cities that have served as the backdrop.
The Guest - Sebastian Stadil, CEO at Scalr:
Sebastian Stadil is the Co-founder and CEO of Scalr, a San Francisco-based cloud computing company specialising in automation and collaboration software for Terraform. Sebastian is also the founder of SVCCG, Silicon Valley's second largest user group, and sits on the cloud advisory boards at Google and Microsoft. He has been developing products and services that leverage AWS and other cloud providers since 2004.
Entrepreneurship, Growth, and Fundraising in Today’s Tech Sector:
What are the unique dynamics of tech entrepreneurship in different regions, particularly comparing experiences in the Bay Area and Europe? Find out the benefits of being in the heart of tech hubs like San Francisco for networking and accessing resources and funding, emphasizing the invaluable role of in-person connections and the mindset of founders. Ultimately, we delve into the complex interplay between location, fundraising, and the growth trajectory of tech companies, offering a nuanced perspective on the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The current state of the tech industry and the tech hubs that host most companies
- The future of tech hubs, in a remote-first world
- Understanding VCs and getting access to funding
- Emerging technology trends that will shape the sector
Listen to the Story of Software onany podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Ganesh Krishnan, Co-Founder and CEO at Anzenna, talks about all things cybersecurity, including current trends and innovations we can expect to see next.
Ganesh Krishnan is the Co-Founder and CEO at Anzenna, an innovative cybersecurity startup that focuses on empowering an organisation's employees to make them more security aware. Ganesh has over 25 years of experience protecting the digital world from cyber threats, having held top-level security and engineering roles at companies like Yahoo!, LinkedIn, and Atlassian.
The Future of Cybersecurity:
As we navigate the digital age, new opportunities and challenges emerge at an unprecedented pace, making it crucial for organisations to stay ahead of the curve and stay protected. Find out about the current trends that are shaping the cybersecurity sector, such as the rise of generative AI and machine learning in enhancing simulations and threat detection. So, how can companies scale their cybersecurity capabilities as they grow and expose themselves to more attacks?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The emerging cybersecurity trends that companies need to follow
- The rise and sophistication of cyberattacks with the use of AI
- Entrepreneurship and leading a tech company through acquisition and scaling
- The opportunities to enhance cybersecurity as a company grows
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Kateryna Gridina, Engineering Manager at Jodel, shares her own career journey in the tech sector, and her insights on career progression towards becoming a tech leader.
The Guest - Kateryna Gridina, Engineering Manager, Jodel:
Kateryna Gridina is an Engineering Manager at Jodel, a Berlin-based company building a platform that is creating a unique way for people to share and connect at a local level. Kateryna joins us to share some context about her own career journey in the technology sector, and we get her insights on career progression towards becoming a tech leader in today’s work environment.
The Route to Tech Leadership:
In today's technology-driven world, the role of a technology leader transcends conventional management; it embodies the essence of guidance, innovation, and strategic direction. A successful tech leader's arsenal should comprise of soft skills such as adaptability, communication, and empathy. However, we see that most of the time, successful tech people are thrust into leadership roles, without being provided the necessary training for utilising their soft skills. So, how should future leaders prepare themselves to take on such roles and excel at them?
Some of the topics covered include:
- The right motivation and skills needed to become a tech leader
- The role of people management and soft skills in tech leadership
- Training & gaining the skills expected of a strong leader
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Matthias Heicke, CTO & Co-Founder at Sweap, takes us through his experience growing Sweap, and the effect of the recent pandemic on the events industry.
The Guest:
Matthias Heicke is the CTO & Co-Founder at Sweap, a Berlin-based company on a mission to provide functional and innovative software solutions for organisations who want to make events an essential part of their marketing strategy. Matthias has 15 years of experience in the software industry and has been leading teams for 10+ years.
In-Person Events in the Post-Covid Era:
The events industry has undergone a profound metamorphosis in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with technology emerging as its steadfast ally. As traditional in-person gatherings faced unprecedented challenges, event organizers and attendees swiftly turned to virtual platforms to bridge the gap. Webinars and online events surged to the forefront, providing a lifeline for conferences and workshops that could no longer take place in physical spaces. As the world gets back to a new normal, what does the events landscape look like today, and where does the public stand with online events now?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The initial industry reaction to Covid-19
- Planning for the future of the business during unprecedented times
- Achieving technological readiness to adapt to the new market
- Business model flexibility and optimisation
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Daniella Rhodes Lorenzo, Founding Member at Toqio, joins our podcast to talk about her experiences in growing her career and business.
The Guest - Daniella Rhodes Lorenzo, Founding Member at Toqio:
Daniella Rhodes Lorenzo is a Founding Member and the Director of Strategy and Innovation at Toqio, a fintech platform that gives companies the ability to create and launch fully branded banking or finance solutions as apps or on the web. Daniella has over 10 years of experience in the tech industry, and has been leading & growing software teams for the majority of her career.
Growing A Tech Company From The Ground Up:
Embarking on the journey of building a tech company from the ground up can be an exhilarating adventure that promises both challenges and rewards. There is a delicate balance between adopting a growth mindset and not compromising on your company culture and productivity. Let’s say it all goes well and now you are at the point of scaling a business; how do you approach growth and how do you structure a tech team that can maintain efficiency while growing?
Some of the topics discussed in this episode include:
- How women in tech have to navigate the leadership landscape
- Growing a technology-focused business from the ground up
- How to structure the tech team when scaling a business
- The challenges and opportunities that come with a large funding round
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Daniel Gebler, CTO of Picnic, joins our podcast to talk about the intersection of tech and business teams and how to optimise collaboration across departments.
The Guest - Daniel Gebler, Founder & CTO, Picnic:
Daniel is the Chief Technology Officer and Founder of Picnic, the world’s fastest-growing online supermarket. Daniel has vast experience working across leadership roles leading engineering teams, and is currently responsible for the product and technology roadmap at Picnic. He also holds an MBA and a PhD in Computer Science.
Enabling Cross-Departmental Collaboration:
Enabling collaboration between business and software departments in a company is crucial for achieving optimal results and driving innovation. Such collaboration ensures that software development aligns with the strategic goals and objectives of the business, leading to the development of software solutions that meet the specific needs of the organisation. But how is that alignment achieved? Which actions should companies take at the organisational and cultural levels to enable their teams?
Daniel joins us to discuss the intersection of tech and business teams, and how to optimise the collaboration between these departments. Some of the topics covered include:
- What are the necessary skills to work at the intersection of tech and business
- The effects of scaling on leadership at an organisational level
- Actions and values that can foster collaboration among teams
- The reverse mentoring method
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Daniel Flax, Head of Sales & Distribution Technology at MassMutual, joins our podcast to discuss the ever-growing role of technology in the financial services sector.
MassMutual is a Fortune 500 life insurance and financial services company founded in 1851.
The Impact of Technology in Financial Services:
Technology plays a pivotal role in the financial services market, revolutionizing the way we manage money and conduct transactions and trade. With the advent of mobile banking, online trading platforms, and advanced analytics, technology empowers individuals and companies to have greater control over financial services and make informed decisions. But as technology continues to evolve, what new possibilities and disruptions will it bring to the financial world? How will emerging technologies shape the future of financial services, and what impact will they have on businesses and consumers alike?
Some of the topics covered in this episode are:
- The latest technological disruptions in the financial services industry
- Potential risks to look out for in the finance space in the near future
- Macroeconomics dependency and the effects of Covid-19
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Nikolaos Tsanakas, Head of Software Development at Digital Automotive, shares his extensive experience in setting up DevOps teams practices, particularly for small and medium enterprises.
Nikolaos is the Head of Software Development at Digital Automotive, a Munich-based company providing a strategy and sales management platform focused on the growth of automotive suppliers. Nikolaos has extensive experience in setting up DevOps teams practices, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
How To Set Up Successful DevOps Practices
DevOps emerged as a response to the inefficiencies and bottlenecks created by traditional software development models. Recognizing the need for improved agility and collaboration, forward-thinking companies started integrating their development and operations teams, giving rise to the DevOps movement. However, we have witnessed many companies failing to set up successful DevOps processes and creating more bottlenecks for their teams. So, what constitutes a successful DevOps approach and which traps should companies avoid?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- What does an optimal DevOps structure look like
- The difference between DevOps structures in an SME vs a large enterprise
- When to start your DevOps journey as a company
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
David Gregor, CTO at Denizen, shares his experiences in setting and nurturing a healthy company culture in remote teams.
David Gregor is the Chief Technology Officer at Denizen, a Berlin-based company helping companies monetize unused office space by providing flexible workspaces for teams and individuals. David has over 10 years of experience in software engineering and he specializes in finding effective and efficient ways to meet business and customer needs.
Creating A Sense of Company Culture Remotely:
Let’s be honest, the concept of a strong ‘company culture’ has been hard to grasp for some companies, even before the remote work revolution. So, it should not come as a surprise that many companies are struggling to create a sense of unity and retain their talent in today’s market.
Some of the topics we cover in this episode are:
- Failure and success stories in setting a company culture remotely
- Should culture be changing with the team and times or stay constant
- How to avoid creating silos within teams
- How to deal with issues of performance in remote teams
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Alan Gleeson, CEO and Co-Founder at Contento, joins us to discuss how to compete in a market with well-established competitors, and the journey he is on with scaling his own company. Alan has extensive leadership experience and is passionate about helping Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies scale.
Competing In A Crowded Market:
Standing out in a crowded market has grown to be a tough challenge in today's fiercely competitive business environment. As there are more companies than ever competing for customers' attention and loyalty, businesses must use targeted strategies to set themselves apart from the competition. Of course, there are many considerations to be taken into account for different businesses in different locations or industries.
In this podcast episode, we try to understand how competition differs across different value propositions, and talk about different scaling strategies in a crowded market.
Some of the questions answered in this episode are:
- Should a crowded market scare off entrepreneurs from entering a specific space?
- What are different strategies companies can deploy to set themselves apart?
- How can you gain customers’ trust when you enter a mature market with well-established competitors?
- Are there differences in the culture of competition across different countries?
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Toby O’Rourke, CTO at FundApps, joins us to discuss his experience in scaling software teams in a short period of time.
Toby is the Chief Technology Officer at FundApps, a software company providing automated compliance monitoring services to some of the world’s largest asset managers, hedge funds, and investment banks. With over 15 years of experience in software engineering, Toby has led agile teams and most recently designed consumer-facing, high-volume, transactional systems for the online cash gaming industry.
What does scaling a business mean?
Scaling happens across different intervals. You might be scaling your team's size or the number of services you offer. You might also be scaling your number of customers, which would require you to scale your teams in order to meet the demand.
If not done right, scaling can cause more harm than good. Without proper strategies and communication, many companies lose their culture as well as their team’s trust.
In this episode, we look into ways to avoid such setbacks, and answer questions such as:
- What are the different scaling models companies can follow?
- How can companies ensure their approach to scaling is responsive to change?
- What can be done to protect a company’s culture while scaling fast?
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Roland Tritsch from Community.com shares his insights on leading remote software teams and how to get remote working right.
Roland is the Senior Director of Engineering at Community.com, a Santa Monica-based company redefining the way in which brands communicate with their customers via text. Roland is an experienced Senior Executive with a proven track record of building, transforming and leading high-energy, distributed, and culturally diverse technology organizations.
Remote Working and Software Teams:
When it comes to choosing the right mode of work for your developers, there is a wide spectrum of options, but #RemoteWork is making its stamp on modern software development teams. In this episode, we talk about leading software teams and how to successfully implement remote working in your company. We try to answer questions such as;
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What is the ideal working environment for a software engineer today?
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Are fully onsite jobs still a thing? Is the hybrid model better, or fully remote jobs for the win?
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What are some general misconceptions about remote work?
Needless to say, picking the right model alone isn’t enough. Whether your developers are onsite or fully remote, keeping engagement and retention high is the key to success. So, how do you go about it?
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Artem Kalaitan, CPO at GetVisibility, joins us to discuss best practices in Data Security and recent innovations in this space.
Artem is the Chief Product Officer at GetVisibility, a leader in AI and Machine Learning for the classification, discovery, and protection of unstructured data. Artem is a domain expert in cybersecurity and data protection with years of experience in cybersecurity forensics, conducting investigations for government agencies, medical institutions, financial, insurance, and many multinational companies.
Data Security in 2023 and Beyond:
Data security remains a crucial concern in 2023, as the amount of sensitive information available continues to grow exponentially. With the rise of IoT and AI, there are now more avenues for cybercriminals to access valuable data, resulting in record numbers of regulations being pushed down on companies by governments. So, how are companies coping with this evolving landscape and how can software bridge the gap between regulations and actual compliance?
The topics covered in this episode include:
- The main problems companies are facing in terms of their data security
- Best practices to follow in data security
- Implementing a ‘healthy’ data security strategy across different industries
- The recent innovations in the data security space
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jim Brandt, CTO at Best Practical Solution, joins our podcast to talk about the benefits and the future of open-source software within the tech industry.
Jim is a highly experienced product manager and tech leader. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer at Best Practical Solutions, a company developing an open-source Request Tracker for Incident Response (RTIR), ticket, and incident-tracking software. Jim shares his insights on the role that open-source software plays in the world today, and its future in software development.
Ins and Outs of Open Source Software Development:
Open source software has many advantages, such as being free to use and modify, and allowing for collaboration, transparency and customization. In theory, it makes developers better in handling complex interdependencies and finding a common ground with the wider open source community. However, what happens if the open-source software in question is adopted by a huge corporation with lots of resources and they start pouring in their developers’ time into it? How can we make sure that an open source software is not monopolized?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The reasons behind the mistrust towards open-source software
- The security risks and secure development approaches to open-source libraries
- The benefits of having open source software developers
- The involvement of major corporations in open source software development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marco Ziccardi from Doctolib joins us to talk about scaling software teams, and the importance of keeping your team engaged in that process.
The Guest: Marco Ziccardi, Director of Engineering at Doctolib:
Marco Ziccardi is the Director of Engineering, Security & Privacy at Doctolib, an innovative healthcare company providing solutions to care teams. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, Marco builds and leads teams that use technology for commercial impact.
Scaling Software Teams Successfully:
As a company grows, the needs and expectations of team members start to evolve with it. From structural changes to how individuals fit into the overall team - there is a lot for companies to continuously optimize. So, what are the key elements you need to get right as you scale a software team?
Some of the topics we cover in this episode are;
- The requirements for scaling a team successfully, based on the size of the team
- The importance of engaging employees for the success of a team
- Employee engagement strategies in an all-remote world
- What future software teams may look like beyond remote working
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Sagar Patel, VP of Engineering at Ampla, joins us to discuss how engineering leaders should manage growth, productivity, and culture in software teams.
The Guest: Sagar Patel, VP of Engineering at Ampla
Sagar Patel is an experienced technology leader with a demonstrated history of building and managing high-performing product and engineering teams. Currently, he is the VP of Engineering at Ampla, a New York-based company empowering founders and operators to grow their businesses through accessible capital.
Engineering Management and Productivity:
Whether you are a CTO, VP of Engineering, or an Engineering Manager, there are certain aspects of team management that remain common. Ensuring engineering goals are aligned with the business goals, warranting that team members understand their roles and responsibilities, and most importantly, keeping their engineers engaged and motivated during times of change.
In this episode, we talk about the principles of good engineering management, as well as the common mistakes that tech leaders make in the face of major change, such as high growth or down-scaling in software teams. Discover:
- How to make the right decisions when it comes to growth and hiring
- Balancing engineering and business needs
- Common mistakes tech leaders make during the hiring process
- How to communicate and manage change within engineering teams
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Sebastian Lau and Jack Godau from Doctorly join us to talk about the evolution of digital healthcare and recent technological advancements in the sector.
Sebastian Lau and Jack Godau are the CTO and CDO at Doctorly. Doctorly provides all of the digital technology, tools, and support, via a single system, for a doctor to efficiently and digitally manage their practice. They also enable patients to access, control and understand their own health records and data via their fully integrated doctorly health app.
Digital Transformation in Healthcare:
Today, everyone is turning online or to apps to handle important aspects of their lives such as careers, personal finances, and investments, so why not healthcare?
The rise of digital transformation and the growing demand for healthcare in the post-Covid world has created a need for a more modern and efficient patient management process. With the use of technology, medical practices can offer digital services and provide faster results to their patients. From online scheduling and examination, to digital data management and instant sharing between practitioners, applications of digital healthcare are limitless. But, what is the actual speed of innovation in the healthcare industry worldwide, and what does the future behold?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The recent technological developments in the healthcare sector
- The technology gap in patient and data management
- Expected innovations in digital healthcare
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Brian Kelly, VP of Engineering at AppMap, joins us to talk about code security from best practices to main vulnerabilities.
Brian has over 25 years of experience in software, with 20 years of experience managing and scaling engineering teams both locally and internationally. His areas of expertise include cybersecurity, SaaS, DevOps, microservices, and distributed systems. He has led the development of a number of products in the security space across companies such as Flipdish, CyberArk and currently AppMap.
Quality & Security Problem Detection:
With our lives moving online in the last decade, the value of what can be stolen or hacked has risen exponentially. This leads to a very high pressure on software and service providers to develop systems with zero vulnerabilities against such attacks. Sadly, in most of the cases, such vulnerabilities are only discovered once the code runs in real time and interacts with different parts of the system. But, what if we could detect security vulnerabilities in real time as our developers code?
Some of the topics covered include:
- How security issues are created and can be detected before release
- The major security threats that organizations face
- Early detection and prevention mechanisms to leverage
- Guiding development teams to uphold security
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Francesco Dominidiato, CTO at Casavo, shares his insights on the path to becoming a tech leader & the experiences one needs to gain along the way.
Francesco is the CTO at Casavo, a company redesigning the experience of selling and buying homes by leveraging proprietary technology in each step of the transaction process. Francesco shares some context about his career journey in technology & how successes and failures are both a key part of the story.
Failing is The New Winning:
Whether you are growing from an individual contributor role to a manager or you are joining a team as an appointed new leader; how can you gain the necessary skills to lead your team to success? What is a good synthesis of success and failure that allows leaders to learn lessons taught nowhere else?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Challenges faced early on in a tech career
- The past and future career paths for technologists and engineers
- Baking failure into the culture of a business
- The past and present startup ecosystem in Italy
Resources:
Within this episode, you will find mentions of reading resources which we are linking here for ease of access:
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/fabiomaffioletti_engineering-leadership-remotework-activity-6988540179133177857-zm8z?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
- https://whimsical.com/resources-for-engineering-management-2Jut7BVjoSyBXgB8fBVeHd
- https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1x4nIhYXvxdWK03I5qcZ5UAG3eOG5L8ugmbLSLtGvMNk/edit#gid=0
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Stefan Avramtchev is a Leadership and Agile Coach with 20 years of experience in software engineering. He specializes in coaching software development teams, and individuals going through a switch in their careers. He joins us today to speak about coaching people entering a managerial role for the first time.
From Individual Contributor to Leader
By this stage, we are well aware that a successful leader is someone who influences people to achieve their goals and continue to strive within their role in the team.
However, it’s often the case that top-performing engineers find themselves being promoted to tech leaders or software development managers, and this transition doesn’t always go so smoothly. The transition from being the go-to person related to technical matters to all of a sudden starting off with step 1 of management can be incredibly challenging.
So, what can people making that transition from an engineering role to management do to give themselves every chance of success?
Some of the topics covered include:
- What makes a good leader
- The challenges of the initial transition
- How to deal with ego
- Feeling unsupported
It’s one thing being the best engineer on your team, and it’s another being someone who can help others fulfill their potential. When we think about the challenges around these transitions, what are the things that you've seen?
“They have to understand that they need to grow, they need to develop, they need to tame their ego, and they need to start appearing as a leader. So, showing vulnerability and all these other things that we just mentioned is important. Another thing is the problem with authenticity, the fear and the lack of safety that they experience in the face of shortcomings and in the face of challenges that they haven’t tackled. Essentially dealing with questions that they don't have the answer to…..
These people have invested heavily in their careers, they are used to being the go-to people for technical matters in the team, and now they have to abandon that. They have to go to square one of management. So that's not easy and they need support and encouragement for that.”
Listen to the Story of Software on:Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Igor Bakman, CTO at ViViRA Health Lab, joins us to discuss the different approaches and mindsets involved in managing code vs people.
Igor is the CTO at ViViRA Health Lab, a Berlin-based company providing personalised therapeutic training for patients with musculoskeletal pain. Igor joins the podcast to discuss his career journey from software engineer to CTO, and his passion for building successful teams and innovative products.
The Ins and Outs of People Management
After our talk with Igor, it is clear that effective people management and code management have fundamental differences, and require different sets of skills. Successful people management in tech teams requires trusting your team, allowing them to come up with solutions, and not being possessive of the code or the work involved.
So, what should leaders who started out as part of the development team do in order to avoid micromanagement and enable success for everyone?
Some of the topics covered include:
- The route from developer to CTO
- The differences between managing code and people
- The mindset needed to be a good leader
- The common mistakes involved in scaling teams
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Chuck Herrin, CTO at Wib and a long-term security practitioner, shares his insights on escalating cyber attacks and the growing importance of API security.
The Guest:
Chuck Herrin is the CTO at Wib, a platform providing a comprehensive solution for the full API software development lifecycle. He has over 18 years of experience as CISO in global financial services firms of all shapes and sizes.
With APIs becoming a prominent part of how different online systems communicate, we have become more dependent on APIs than we realize. Today, 91% of all web traffic is APIs communicating within each other and we would not be able to get anything done online without them. So by design, APIs are designed to expose certain information to the outside world.
How do we deal with the increasing risks and attacks on APIs? Are there techniques and strategies that companies can adopt?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Why APIs are so vulnerable to cyber attacks
- The recently growing numbers of API attacks
- How to analyze API vulnerabilities
- Communicating vulnerabilities to different stakeholders
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jacopo Toccacieli, COO at ShippyPro, shares his insights on customer experience and providing impeccable results through a zero-bug policy.
ShippyPro is a company simplifying the way people ship, track and return their e-commerce orders, all over the world. Jacopo shares his career journey in technology. We talk about the principles that have enabled him to deliver successful results, such as the importance of customer empathy, and implementing a zero-bug policy.
Customer Empathy and Experience:
The best way to become a trusted services or SaaS provider is straightforward - provide high-quality support and flawless customer experience. This means not only resolving the issues of your customers consistently, but also doing it in the fastest way possible, and allowing for minimal down time. One of the top strategies in this area is to allow for no bugs in your own, or your client’s systems.
Why implement zero-bug policies? Because zero bugs means flawless experiences, which translates into higher returns for your clients, and showcases the success of your work. Find out how you can implement zero-bug policies by achieving a full buy-in from your tech team.
Some of the topics covered include:
- Translating customer empathy in business
- Efficiently sharing tasks between product and development teams
- Zero bug policies and engineer buy-in
- Challenges and benefits of implementing zero bug policies
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Peter Kisel, CTO at Cyrkl, joins us to talk about balancing product and software development, especially in the earlier stages of a company’s growth.
Cyrkl is Europe's leading circular waste management platform and Peter shares some context about the company, the challenges they are facing as they continue to innovate, and striking the right balance between product and software development.
Hands-on Coding vs Managing Software Teams:
As a company grows and the needs of the business scale up, the role of a CTO and the roles of each individual team member go through change. The roles of team members - business or technical - evolve from being generalists who are ready to take on different roles, to specialists who have the resources to focus on a specific area of work and excel at it.
So, how do you scale and delegate tasks as the definition of work changes? What are the strategies and best practices to follow in order to achieve a successful and scalable team structure?
Some of the topic covered include:
- The changing people needs of the business over time
- Lessons learned in scaling a business and software teams
- Scaling the infrastructure and the product as the business grows
- The perfect balance between product and software development
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Niall Twomey is the CTO and Co-Founder of Fenergo, one of Ireland’s tech unicorns. Niall is here to share some context about the story of Fenergo and how the business has gained success since 2008.
Scaling a Tech Company Internationally:
In order to keep scaling, businesses need to embrace change and take completely different approaches at different stages of a company’s growth. The needs and the mindset in a startup is completely different to the needs and the mindset of a scale up company.
Starting with a single team of developers, Niall Twomey and his Co-founders have been scaling Fenergo into the FinTech powerhouse that it is today, spanning across multiple continents, with operations worldwide. Find out how they approached and continue approaching culture, hiring and fundraising at different phases of growth.
Some of the topics covered include:
- How to win the first customers
- Lessons learned in scaling a tech company
- How to approach & what to look for in investors
- The evolving people needs of a business
Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
On this week's episode, our podcast, Padraig Coffey, was invited to join another podcast called Design Talk (dot IE) by Allen Higgins.
Listen to this episode to find out where design happens within consulting services and in what forms.
Design Talk (dot IE) is a podcast about design in-the-wild:
The good, the beautiful, and the useful.
Uncover the essence of design, the backstory to the design of objects and technologies, and how we manage design initiatives. This podcast is for anyone who cares about the things we make and use, and digital things in particular. After all, we are all involved in some way with designs and designing.
Listen to The Story of Software on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Ivo Krka, and Tihomir Lolic, Co-founders at Sportening, share their experience building a successful product in the competitive sports industry.
Ivo Krka and Tihomir Lolic lead the tech and product teams at Sportening, a startup that is building a social network where sports fanatics can join a community of fellow minded fans. Through Sportening, fans talk sports with other fans, find informative, fun, and entertaining content, and build meaningful connections with each other.
A Digital Platform for the Sports Community:
In this episode, we dive into the challenges and opportunities of disrupting the seemingly crowded sports industry. Through the experiences of our guests, we also look into the differences between working at a multinational company and growing a local startup.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The challenges around choosing the right tech stack.
- The competitive global market for top tech talent.
- The complexity of product-market fit.
- Empowering employee ownership
Listen to The Story of Software on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
May Piamenta, Co-founder & CEO at Vee, shares her experiences as an entrepreneur in the volunteering space.
May Piamenta, Co-founder and CEO of Vee, founded Vee together with her two partners, Gil and Avi, with the goal of making social impact simpler than ever. Before founding Vee in 2019, she led a global nonprofit team, where she managed 10 million volunteers in over 32 countries. All the work was done manually, and she found existing technological solutions to be enterprise-oriented and difficult to use. So, May decided to act.
As the world’s most innovative volunteering platform, Vee empowers everybody to act on their values. The platform includes a marketplace of verified volunteering opportunities and all the tools needed to manage volunteering activities for both nonprofits and companies alike.
Volunteering Platforms and Technologies:
In this episode, we dive into the different challenges and opportunities in the non-profit sector, as well as growing a company in such a challenging industry.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The value that companies focused on social impact can bring in bad times
- The challenges of growing a non-profit business through fundraising
- Growing and operating a company as a young, female entrepreneur
- Hiring the right people to carry the right values forward
Listen to The Story of Software on:
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Deezer, & any other podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
On this episode of the Story of Software podcast, Didier Caroff, VP of Engineering at Akeneo, shares his insights on structuring and restructuring engineering teams as tech departments grow.
Didier is the VP of Engineering at Akeneo, a global leader in product experience management. Akeneo helps merchants and brands deliver customer experiences across all sales channels, including eCommerce, mobile, print, and retail points of sale to global brands such as Sephora, Fossil, Shop.com, and Auchan.
How to Structure Engineering Teams:
As software departments grow, the requirements and processes needed to sustain a solid team structure also change. How a 10 person software team works and communicates is vastly different from a 50 or 100 person team. So, what are the ideal conditions and structure to create a productive engineering team?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Ideal engineering team structures for startups and scaleups
- Quality assurance within autonomous squads
- Team structures that maximise engineer satisfaction
- Common mistakes when structuring engineering teams
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Ron Danenberg, CTO & Co-founder of Kolleno, joins our podcast to talk about growing a company from single to multiplayer & building software collaboratively.
Ron Danenberg is the Co-founder and CTO at Kolleno, a company on a mission to help businesses streamline credit control and collections. Kolleno automates key credit control functions and uses intelligent omnichannel communications to recover outstanding payments.
Growing A Business and A Team:
We’ve all heard the odds, 9 out of 10 startups fail. With so much pressure on entrepreneurs to succeed, how can a one or two-person team excel and grow sustainably? What are some of the early-stage considerations and decisions that make a difference?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The benefits of an entrepreneurial mindset.
- The importance of the initial idea and team selection.
- The challenges and opportunities within the first years of growth.
- How to interview & hire team members consciously.
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marco Hülsmann, Chief Operations and Technology Officer at MyPostcard.com, joins us to talk about business resilience and shares his insights on keeping your company alive when the world changes.
Marco is Chief Operations & Technology Officer at MyPostcard.com, one of Germany’s fastest-growing technology companies. MyPostcard is made up of an international team passionately and creatively upholding the postcard tradition in the digital age.
From a global pandemic to geopolitical issues, the past few years have shown us that you need to have a resilient business model, and a unified team mindset to keep thriving. From various business considerations and strategies to promoting resilience and productivity within your teams - there are many decisions to be made that will determine how your business performs during uncertain times.
Some of the topics covered in the episode include:
- How to build business resilience in uncertain times
- Change management within software teams
- Tips on supporting team productivity & morale
- Leadership advice for today’s businesses
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Samantha Mountford, CTO at Feast It, joins our podcast to talk about the current status of the events industry & technology’s role in enabling in-person events.
Samantha Mountford has decades of experience in the IT industry and has led software teams within various companies. She is currently the CTO at Feast It, the UK’s leading event booking platform, where you can book the perfect suppliers for your wedding, private party, festival, or work event.
The verdict is out. Most people have had enough of Zoom events and want to get back to in-person events where they can interact with their friends or colleagues in a meaningful way. The events industry, which suffered during Covid lockdowns, is predicted to make a huge comeback, unsurprisingly, large amounts of events and festivals have already been postponed to future dates to be held in person again.
What is the role of technology in making these events a reality? And what solutions does it offer to event planners when it comes to choosing providers and saving time?
Some of the topics covered include:
- Covid and the rise of online events.
- The trends in online events vs real-life events.
- The technologies behind big scale events.
- How software can speed up event planning.
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Daniel White, CEO and Co-founder of Signol, helps us understand how we can influence behavioural patterns within ourselves and our companies.
Daniel White is the Co-Founder and CEO at Signol, a software platform that draws on insights from behavioural economics to encourage employees to make more efficient decisions. Signol provides users with actions and feedback through multiple communication channels, as well as data analysis for those in management positions.
Developing Greener Habits:
Today, most people are to some degree aware of the actions needed to be more environmentally conscious. However, why do we find it difficult to make a change? Is there a way that technology can motivate us to take better actions and become greener?
If so, can we apply these incentives at a company level and prompt larger groups of people to take climate action?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Can we incentivize employees to change behaviours?
- How technology can be used to influence behavioural habits.
- What are the incentives that people react positively to?
- Ensuring the well-being of team members.
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Nina Mannheimer, Co-founder of Klim, joins us to share her experience of setting up and scaling a company that caters to a growing sustainability initiative - regenerative agriculture.
Nina Mannheimer is the Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Klim, a company enabling farmers to transition to regenerative agriculture at scale by assisting them via a digital companion. Klim is creating a movement with brands, consumers, and farmers to transform the current industrial farming system into a more sustainable one.
Building Sustainable Businesses:
Building a business that offers tangible and sustainable solutions to tackle the climate crisis is tricky. From investment models that do not consider how sustainable businesses work, to the technological challenges of transforming nature into a digital product; there is a lot for startups to figure out. So, how should one go about building a successful business in the sustainability space that can stand the test of time?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- Regenerative agriculture and its advantages
- Developing a business model focused on sustainability
- The business challenges of attracting investment in the field of sustainability
- The technological challenges involved in sustainability initiatives
- Hiring and managing teams for the right cause
You can find the Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Hugh O’Brien, CTO at Thrive Global, joins the Story of Software podcast to share his insights on employee well-being as a competitive advantage for companies.
Hugh has held a variety of software engineering positions, including senior leadership roles throughout his career. He is used to managing high-profile, high-value systems and is currently the CTO at Thrive. Thrive helps individuals and companies improve their well-being and performance through sustainable, science-backed solutions. They offer tools for people to live and work with less stress, more productivity, and greater well-being.
Today, creating a positive work environment for employees is no longer an added benefit, but a much-needed strategy for fostering stable and productive teams. Happy team members not only work well together and are more productive, but they are also less likely to change jobs. So, what can employers offer to improve the well-being of their teams and secure long-term success for the company?
Some of the topics covered include:
- The changing definition of work and employee preferences.
- The advantages of focusing on employee well-being.
- Software tools for ensuring employee happiness.
- Strategies and resources for ensuring productivity in software teams.
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Marion Verles, CEO at SustainCERT, shares her insights on bringing credibility to various climate action projects through technology.
Marion Verles is a mission-driven entrepreneur who dedicated her career to the transformation of our economic system through the redefinition of value. She believes that we need to measure and price what really matters - looking beyond profit to also include people and our planet. She co-founded SustainCERT with the goal to use technology to bring credibility to climate action.
Prior to SustainCERT, Marion led the Gold Standard Foundation as CEO and spent 7 years in Asia where she founded and led Nexus for Development, a successful cooperative working with pro-poor low carbon entrepreneurs.
As the need for taking action to minimize our carbon footprint becomes critical, the number of ESG projects has risen considerably. From reforestation and sustainable farming to hydro and solar-powered projects, the options are abundant. So, how can we know which projects to invest in and whether it is actually making an impact?
With decades of research and development in the field, global standards and verification institutions offer a solution. Find out how it all works on this week’s episode!
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Stephanie Sheehan, VP of Engineering at Keelvar, joins the Story of Software podcast to share her insights and experience on becoming an impactful technology leader.
Stephanie has over 20 years of experience building software products across multiple industries including Telecommunications, Financial and Medical Compliance, and more. She is now the VP of Engineering at Keelvar, which provides sourcing optimization and automation software for enterprise procurement teams. Keelvar emerged from a leading AI research laboratory and is the category leader in best practice technology for advanced eSourcing, serving customers such as Siemens, BMW, Coca-Cola, and more.
Becoming a Technology Leader:
Moving from a technical role to a management role requires a change in the way you think and how you approach your team. As a technology leader working with cross-functional teams, one needs to bring people together, cater to each individual's needs, and at the same time let go of their ego to become an enabler. These are only a few of the skills discussed in this episode.
Some of the topics covered include:
- Software solutions that can enable faster procurement
- Empowering women in the tech sector
- The skills needed to be a good leader
- Advice for becoming a leader in the tech sector
- Insights on managing and growing successful teams
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Jonathan Larbey, CEO at T-Pro, joins us to discuss how the world can benefit from innovation in healthcare & the technologies solving the biggest problems.
Jonathan is the CEO at T-Pro, the winner of the Deloitte 2021 Impact award, and a global leader in clinical documentation improvement software. T-Pro’s technology allows healthcare providers to voice-enable their existing processes, reduce transcription costs, outsource overflow transcription, and capture patient information effectively and efficiently from anywhere on any device.
Healthcare Digitization:
The demands and pressure on the global healthcare sector have risen significantly in recent years with the Covid-19 pandemic, and so has the need for organizational efficiency in patient care. In this episode, we explore a number of ways in which technology can bring substantial innovation and bridge a number of efficiency gaps.
Some of the topics covered in the episode include:
- The shortcomings of the healthcare sector
- How technology can solve certain problems in healthcare
- Ensuring security in healthcare products
- Learnings from leading and scaling a technology business
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis.
Benktesh Sharma, Ph.D., Senior Director of Technology Solutions at Verra, joins us to talk about the effective use of technology in the fight against the biggest issue of our time, climate change.
Benktesh Sharma is a Technology Leader holding a Ph.D. in Forest Sciences and Biology from West Virginia University, along with a M.S. in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology. As Senior Director of Technology at Verra, Benktesh leads the technological strategy of the world’s leading certifying body for environmental projects, currently contributing to over 85% of the total voluntary market for carbon credits.
Verified Carbon Standards for Climate Actions:
There is no doubt that global warming and climate change are the biggest challenges facing our generation, and putting the lives of future generations at risk. A successful climate strategy at individual and global level is a mix of avoiding, reducing and offsetting emissions. The verified carbon standards (VCS) are among the most widely adopted standards for voluntary carbon offsetting, as they ensure a level of quality for climate projects, and enable transparency and trust.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The role of technology in the fight against climate change in today’s market.
- Carbon cycles and verified carbon credits.
- How technology can help build trust in the carbon markets.
- Different applications of technology for tackling climate action.
- Technological challenges that remain to be solved in the sector.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Peter Rose, CTO of TEKenable, joins us to discuss the growing demand for low code software development in the technology market.
The Guest - Peter Rose, Owner & CTO at TEKenable:
Peter founded TEKenable with Nick Connors in 2002 to provide high-quality software solutions to Financial Services, Healthcare Services, Agri-Food companies, and the Public Sector. After 20 years in business, TEKenable has been listed in the Deloitte Fast50 three years running, 2019, 2020 & 2021.
Additionally, Peter acts as CTO and associate CTO to several start-ups and established services companies in Ireland and EMEA. Peter is recognised as an expert in the delivery of secure, reliable software to enterprise businesses and as a trusted advisor to many Irish CEOs and CIOs.
Low Code Software Development:
Using low code technologies to scale your products has many benefits, starting with the fact that it lowers the barriers for many team members besides software developers to work on shaping a product hands-on. By eliminating the need for extensive and complicated code, you can enable your product teams or business analysts to build or customize a product and cater to customer needs with no time wasted.
Some of the topics covered include:
- What is ‘Low Code’ and in what way is it changing the software industry?
- What does TEKenable do, and which problems is it solving?
- The impact of low code for the future of software jobs.
- How to stay on top of new technologies and continuously be learning.
- Learnings from scaling a business & insights for other business leaders.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis.
Rónán Dowling-Cullen, CTO at Bounce Insights joins us to discuss how technology can be used to improve market research, and how tech can enable data-driven decision making.
The Guest - Rónán Dowling-Cullen, CTO at Bounce Insights:
Rónán is the Chief Technology Officer of Bounce Insights. Bounce Insights enables companies to validate the assumptions behind their pivotal business decisions. The Bounce platform provides fast results, quality respondents, and an easy-to-use interface for the benefit of insights-driven businesses. Bounce currently provides customer data for a wide variety of customers, including Coca-Cola HBC, Diageo, and Specsavers.
How to Make Data-Driven Decisions:
Today, making the right business decisions has become more important than ever as we operate in an ever-changing landscape with high failure rates. Therefore, it is vital to base in evidence the decisions we make in order to adapt and grow successfully. What if there is a way of gathering real-time data from your prospective customers and using their feedback to make the best decisions?
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The challenges of growing a business in an ever-changing landscape.
- The opportunity of driving success through data-driven decision-making.
- The business benefits of gathering feedback from clients and users.
- The technologies and processes that enable quality and real-time data insights.
- Internationalizing a business and launching into new markets.
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Paddy Finn, CEO at Viotas, joins us to discuss how software can make energy systems more efficient and pave the way towards more wide-spread renewable energy adoption.
Dr Paddy Finn is the CEO at Viotas - a technology company in the energy sector that focuses on balancing supply and demand in the electricity grid and helping us ease into a low-carbon world of energy. Viotas won the Deloitte Fast50 in 2019 on the back of exceptional growth in the preceding years.
Optimizing The Grid Through Energy Management Software
"The energy industry is going through a huge transition at the moment. Power systems operated largely in the same manner for 80 to almost 100 years and in the next decade we're going to see possibly as much change and advancement as we've seen in the last decade almost. There is a huge amount of food for thought to be able to solve some very complex problems. " (Dr Paddy Finn, CEO at Viotas)
Electricity production is among the highest sources of greenhouse gas emissions (accounting for 25% of the 2019 GHG emissions in the US), with the majority of electricity still coming from burning fuels. There are many challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector in its strive towards sustainability, and some big ones include optimizing existing energy systems and allowing for the smoother wide-spread adoption of renewable energy.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- The current and future technological opportunities for optimizing energy systems
- The challenges of using renewable energy at scale and how technology can help address those
- The technological advances that will help us move towards a lower-carbon future
- Advice for entrepreneurs planning to enter the energy sector
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
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The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis.
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Kevin Ruthen, CTO at Fora Financial, to discuss the principles and challenges of effective tech leadership.
Successful Technology Leadership:
As technology takes a more central role within modern businesses, having a well-run, efficient, and engaged software engineering team can be the difference between success and failure.
Establishing successful leadership - both in terms of processes and culture - is essential to creating well-functioning tech teams. And in an ever-changing business environment, being a successful tech leader is an ever-evolving set of considerations, tasks, and approaches.
Some of the topics covered in this episode include:
- How has the role of a tech leader evolved over the past decades
- The overarching principles of good leadership in technology
- The common mistakes newly appointed tech leaders make, and how to avoid them
- Creating a culture of high performance within technology teams
- Advice for engineers considering to move into the leadership track
- Resources for new or aspiring tech leaders to upskill
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Arjun Mendhi, Founder and CEO at MOLTEN**, to discuss the process of bringing successful products to market.
The Guest - Arjun Mendhi, Founder and CEO at Molten:**
Arjun has extensive experience across the process of product innovation and is the CEO and Founder at Molten. Molten’s cloud platform transforms media rights, content, and financial management, radically simplifying global operations. By leveraging its domain expertise, Molten infrastructure empowers film & TV organizations with real-time analytics to accelerate deal-making and content monetization worldwide.
Building Successful Products:
The main challenge any new company faces is achieving product-market fit. And reaching product-market fit encompasses a number of considerations - from how to approach a problem, to looking for the right funding opportunities, to instilling the right culture among the team building the product.
In this episode, Arjun shares his deep insights on how to build successful products - for both new and established companies alike. Some of the topics covered include:
- The specificities of early stage product development.
- How a startup should approach funding and how to choose investors.
- Hiring at different stages of a company’s evolution.
- Engineering culture and process considerations in building successful products.
- Approaching mistakes and setbacks in the right way.
- Advice for companies looking for product-market fit.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Thomas Norman Canguilhem, CEO and Co-founder at EcoTree International, to discuss the latest trends in sustainable forestry as well as the technologies that enable it.
The Guest - Thomas Norman Canguilhem, Co-founder and CEO at EcoTree:
Thomas is a climate-entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in developing businesses and leading digital and sustainable transitions. Thomas is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of EcoTree, a simple and ground-breaking new way to reward individuals and businesses that support sustainable forestry.
Sustainability and Forestry Investing:
Tree planting has become a hot topic worldwide in the past years. Forests are an important tool in combating climate change and have a number of additional benefits including the enablement of biodiversity and habitat protection. However, all of these positive outcomes heavily depend on forestry projects being done correctly and with respect to the complexity and expertise required to run them properly.
In this episode, Thomas shares his insights on:
- The common concepts behind sustainable forestry initiatives.
- Investing in forestry.
- Understanding carbon sequestration within forestry.
- Current and future uses of technology in enabling sustainable forestry solutions.
- The upcoming trends in the reforestation space.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by David Ives, CTO at Patchwork Health to discuss the latest trends in healthcare workforce management and the technologies that enable them.
The Guest - David Ives, CTO at Patchwork Health
David Ives has extensive experience in the tech world, mostly in senior roles leading teams and businesses. He is now the CTO at Patchwork Health where they combine industry-leading technology with extensive specialist expertise to bring an entirely tailored service to solve the unique challenges of healthcare organisations.
Healthcare Workforce Management
If Covid-19 has shown us anything, it is that we need to cherish healthcare professionals and provide them with the means and the support to continue to do their job in a notoriously high-demanding sector.
In this episode, we cover some of the technological advancements that enable healthcare professionals to operate in a more flexible way, and we discuss the ways that tech and digitalization advancements can change working habits across the sector.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The challenges faced by the healthcare sector in talent management
- The mobility challenges faced by healthcare professionals
- The limitations of current healthcare systems and processes
- How technology is resolving some of the healthcare procurement problems
- The challenges and advantages of utilizing technology in healthcare workforce management
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Colm O'Donaill, CTO at ESW to discuss the latest technology and business trends in the e-commerce fulfillment sector.
International E-commerce Fulfillment
The Guest - Colm O'Donaill, CTO at ESW :
Colm O'Donaill has been at the forefront of technology leadership for over 20 years. He has worked for O2, Citi, Ding and is currently the CTO at ESW. Colm has led the company from less than 10 employees to now over 500, along with winning the Deloitte Fast50 3 times and achieving a unicorn status.
Why and How International Fulfillment is Rising :
The e-commerce fulfillment space has been one of the lucky domains that has seen a substantial and global rise in demand in the past couple of years, a trend that was accelerated by the Covid pandemic and the digitization of retail. In this episode, we explore how this sector has evolved and the technology that has enabled its growth.
Some of the topics covered include:
- How has the e-commerce fulfillment spaced evolved over the last number of years
- The impact of Covid on the fulfillment space - the opportunities and challenges
- The impact of Brexit in the European e-commerce fulfillment market
- Sustainability trends in the fulfillment and e-commerce space
- The technological opportunities and what’s next in the fulfillment industry
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host is joined by Arnout Asjes, CTO at Land Life Company & Ariel Delgado, Lead Engineer at Land Life Company, to discuss the role of software in optimizing reforestation initiatives.
Software and Reforestation Projects
The Guests - Arnout Asjes & Ariel Delgado, Land Life Company:
Arnout Asjes is the founding member and current CTO and Ariel Delgado is a Lead Software Engineer at Land Life Company. Land Life Company is a technology-driven reforestation company that plants trees at scale, offering corporations and organizations a sustainable and transparent way to take climate action and compensate carbon emissions through nature restoration.
Greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation are among the most responsible factors of global warming today. Land Life Company applies data and technology, such as drones, artificial intelligence and monitoring applications, to every step of the planting process. Planting trees where it is needed most, Land Life Company’s projects revitalize important ecosystems, improve biodiversity and create social and economic benefits to local communities.
The Need for Technology-Driven Reforestation
Reforestation projects have gathered a lot of attention worldwide and have mobilised many in support. Planting trees is a major global response to climate change and acts as both an individual and collective carbon footprint offsetting tool. However, In order for tree planting to have a positive impact, it needs to be done correctly. In this episode, we explore how technology can help us on that path.
Some of the topics covered include:
- Technology-driven improvements to the way we plant trees.
- The importance of species selection in tree planting initiatives.
- Technology-enabled monitoring of tree growth and early detection of warning signs.
- The operational challenges of managing reforestation projects.
- The challenges and opportunities of running reforestation initiatives across countries.
- What we could expect to see next at the interface of technology and forestry.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Corey Stedman, CEO of Greenfire, as they discuss the technology behind crypto wallets and exchanges.
Cryptocurrency Wallets and Exchanges
The Guest - Corey Stedman, CEO of Greenfire
Corey Francis has over 10 years of experience in the IT world, mostly leading teams and projects in the fintech industry, working on blockchain technologies. Today, he is the CEO of Greenfire, and his team is developing a wallet called Greenery, that will change the way people manage their crypto assets.
Understanding the User and Technological Context of Cryptocurrency PlatformsAs the world of cryptocurrencies is gaining more attention and popularity, it is also evolving and changing. More and more platforms are offering us access to trading and storing currencies, each with their benefits and downsides, each facing new technological challenges and security risks. In today’s episode, we aim to explore the world of crypto wallets and exchanges from both the user and developer perspectives.
Some of the topics covered include:
- What are digital wallets and crypto exchanges?
- What are the different types of crypto wallets and exchanges?
- What should people consider when choosing a platform for their assets?
- What are the technological challenges of building a crypto wallet?
- What are the challenges that remain to be addressed in this space?
You can find The Story of Software podcast on any podcast platform of your choice.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Levi Malott, VP of Engineering at Pachama, to discuss the opportunity for technology to measure the carbon capture of forests and guide decision-making.
On the Carbon Sequestration of Trees and Forests
The Guest - Levi Malott, VP of Engineering at Pachama:
Levi Malott is an engineer and engineering leader with over a decade of experience in the software world. He has worked in some incredibly impactful companies, including SpaceX, BetterUp and now Pachama. Levi is currently VP of Engineering at Pachama, a company that uses AI and remote sensing to verify and monitor carbon capture by forests to help finance conservation and reforestation.
Technology-enabled Carbon Capture Measurement
Tree planting and forest projects have become an essential carbon offsetting tool at both a small and large scale. For these initiatives to have a real impact, it’s essential to understand them better and invest accordingly. Technology can help during the many stages of that process. Levi shares his deep expertise as he introduces us to this topic.
Some of the topics covered in this podcast episode include:
- The lifetime of a tree (and a forest) and how its carbon absorption capabilities evolve.
- The three types of forest projects - reforestation, conservation and improved forest management.
- The challenges and opportunities of measuring the carbon capture of forests.
- Assessing risk - forest fires.
- The next steps in this space at the intersection of technology and forestry.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Stuart Cochran, CTO of BridgeU, to discuss change management in technology companies, particularly within software engineering teams. Change Management in Tech Teams
The Guest - Stuart Cochran, CTO at BridgeU
Stuart is currently the CTO of BridgeU, a company declared as one of the most innovative Edtech companies in Europe by assisting schools to focus on simplifying the complex journey students of today face as they take the next step in their careers. Bridge U was acquired by the leading US edtech company, Kaplan, in 2020.
Stuart has over 20 years experience leading software development teams and projects in various industries including telecommunications, media and most recently, EdTech.
The Challenges and Opportunities of Managing Change
Stuart shares his experience on company-wide change as an employee, and as manager of tech teams across different industries.
Some of the topics covered include:
- The key aspects of change to always consider.
- Key technological enablers in managing change.
- Important people management strategies.
- The common challenges and pitfalls.
- How COVID-19 impacted the way we perceive or approach major change.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Roy Robinson, VP of Product & Engineering at Aylien, as they discuss technology-enabled news analytics.
On the Opportunity of Understanding News At Scale
The Guest - Roy Robinson, VP of Product & Engineering at Aylien
Roy is an Entrepreneur, Product Leader and Executive with over 25 years at the forefront of technological innovation.
Currently, he’s the VP of Product and Engineering at AYLIEN - an AI & ML-based company, specialised in text & news analysis that allow users to make sense of human-generated content at scale. They provide a range of content analysis solutions to businesses, developers, data scientists, marketers and academics, and recently won the Deloitte Innovation Award for Most Disruptive Company in Fintech.
Understanding The World of News Analytics
Roy shares his expertise on using technology to transform the world’s news into real-time business insights.
Some of the topics covered include:
The categorization and processing of news across the internet and traditional media.
Who needs news analytics?
Can technology detect the next pandemic?
The technological challenges faced when building news analytics technology.
What challenges remain to be tackled in this space?
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Juha Ristolainen, CTO at Upvest, as they discuss technology-enabled democratized access to investments.
On Investments:
The Guest - Juha Ristolainen, CTO at Upvest:
Juha has 34 years of programming experience and two decades building digital services for a living. He has worked in big companies and has enabled small ones to scale across sectors such as travel, automotive, logistics, eCommerce and fintech.
Juha is currently the CTO of Upvest and working on an exciting new product that will enable easier access to investment for everyone - not just a few.
Understanding The Investments Landscape
Juha shares his expertise on using technology to enable access to investment.
Some of the topics covered include:
-The main challenges of enabling access, as well as the opportunities.
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Tokenization, the new asset classes.
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Robinhood and Gamestop.
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What is next for the world of investing?
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Chris Brook, Co-founder at FINBOURNE Technology.
Chris Brook is a Co-Founder and Engineer at FINBOURNE Technology. FINBOURNE Technology builds tools that power investment data processes for everyone from start-up fund managers to global investment institutions. The company was founded in December 2016 and just over 4 years later has grown to over 100 employees.
On Being Fit for Purpose As Your Company Grows:
In this episode we will explore the ways in which companies need to change and evolve as they grow - particularly as you go from that early stage startup to a more established company. Chris shares his insights scaling a company in a short space of time:
Established companies vs startups.
What is important when you’re a company of a few vs a much larger engineering organization.
Technological strategy evolution in a high growth setting.
Key milestones and growth management strategies.
Key ingredients to success.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Dominik Harz, Co-founder and CTO at Interlay.
On Cross Chain Technology:
The Guest - Dominik Harz, Co-founder and CTO at Interlay
Dominik has a unique blend of academic and professional expertise in the crypto field. He is the Co-founder and CTO of Interlay - the first fully decentralized and trustless gateway for Bitcoin into other blockchain networks starting with Polkadot, Ethereum and Cosmos. He is also finalising his PhD in Computer Science from Imperial College London and has a number of publications to his name
What Is Interoperability and Why Is It So Important?
Tune in as Dominik shares his insights and expertise on the interoperability of blockchains. Some of the topics discussed cover:
What is blockchain interoperability? What are its main benefits?
Financial regulations on blockchain and cryptocurrencies.
Leading projects in blockchain interoperability
Security considerations.
The technological challenges in achieving interoperability.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Jason Maude, Chief Technology Advocate at Starling Bank, as they discuss challenger banks. The Guest - Jason Maude, CTA at Starling BankJason Maude, Chief Technology Advocate at Starling Bank. Jason has over a decade long experience working in the fintech sector. Coming from a software engineering background, he has the unique perspective of understanding in depth well the technological, as well as the wider business considerations of building and running a bank, and how these intersect.
The New Wave BanksIn the past 10 or so years, since the financial crisis, we have seen a boom in the rise of digital banks and new financial institutions. Starling Bank is part of this new wave and has been selected as Best British Bank in the last 3 years.
Tune in as Jason shares his insights on:
What are challenger banks?
The history and evolution of challenger banks.
Digital vs incumbent banks.
Technology strategies behind building a digital bank.
Cryptocurrencies and disruption in the banking space.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Oisin Hurley , CTO at Swrve, as they discuss cloud economics and how to maximize your return on investment.
The Guest - Oisin Hurley, CTO at Swrve:
Oisin has spent the last 15 years leading software teams and is currently working as the CTO of Swrve, delivering real-time, multi-channel customer engagement software. Oisin is an expert in cloud-enabled, complex systems and today we hope to get his insights on how we can leverage cloud technologies, while maximizing our Return on Investment (ROI).
Why is this topic so important?
Cloud economics is the study of cloud computing’s costs and benefits and the economic principles that underpin them.
After payroll, cloud fees are often the highest cost technology companies face. Managing those correctly can be essential to running a sustainable and scalable business.
Tune in as Oisin walks us through what precipitated the rise of cloud computing; the main mistakes people make that can lead to astronomical cloud costs; who are the key people in your organisation who need to understand cloud costs and how each can make an impact - architects, engineers, sales people drafting deals; what is coming up next in this space.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by David Boundy, CTO at Innowatts, as they discuss the opportunity for software to reduce the global carbon footprint of electricity production.
On Electricity Grids and Decarbonised Grids:
Energy production accounts for 72% of the global emissions. Moving this sector towards cleaner options is key in fighting climate change.
This episode’s guest - David Boundy - has more than 20 years of experience in the energy and digital innovation sector. He is currently CTO at Innowatts, a data analytics company that helps utilities and energy retailers from around the world optimize their businesses with energy usage data and AI-enabled predictive analytics.
Tune in as David shares his expertise and insights in this area. Some of the topics covered:
What is an electric grid? What is a decarbonised grid?
Who are the leaders internationally in driving renewable energy?
The most promising technologies in the renewable space?
How can software be used to decarbonize the grid?
Microgeneration.
What does the future of the energy sector look like?
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Tyler Patterson, Managing Director at C.H. Robinson, as they discuss the challenges and opportunities of logistics and supply chain technology.
On logistics and supply chain technology:
Tyler has spent the last decade in the logistics and supply chain space at C.H. Robinson, where he is currently Managing Director. Coming from an engineering background, he has deep expertise in the sector and the technology enabling it.
Here are some of the topics covered:
- The challenges and opportunities of the sector.
- The major changes in logistics and supply chain technology over the past years.
- The impact of 2020 on demand in the sector.
- The complexity of Covid-19 vaccine distribution.
- What is next for the sector and where is technology evolving towards.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Siobhán Fairman, Software Development Manager at Compliance and Risks, as they discuss how to successfully enable remote work for software engineering teams.
Remote Work Becomes the Norm; How Software Teams are Shaping the Way We Work Together
Siobhan has been working remotely for over 10 years and has managed a distributed software engineering team for most of that time. Padraig has enabled Zartis’ transition to a fully remote company of 180+ people across 5 countries.
They share their experience and insights on:
What are the key ingredients to running a successful distributed team?
What is the role of the team members, the manager, and the company in enabling successful remote work?
What are the good practices for managing a successful distributed software engineering team?
What can companies expect from a post-covid world and how can they adapt their approach to the many unknowns?
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Matthias Feys, CTO at ML6, as they discuss artificial intelligence, machine learning and their current and potential use cases.
On Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning:
This episode takes a deep dive into the world of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), as Matthias shares his expertise and insights into this field. Here are some of the topics covered:
- What are AI / ML / Deep Learning and Computer Vision?
- Automation - loss of jobs vs improved quality of life.
- The history of artificial intelligence and the AI winters.
- AI in software development: software developing software.
- AI and ML in sports.
- Ethics in this space.
- Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Alex Wilson, Co-Founder at The Giving Block, as they discuss how technology is changing the philanthropy world.
This episode explores the huge opportunity for technology to make an impact within the philanthropy sector, focusing on what is already being done, how has Covid impacted the transition and what the future holds.
Alex walks us through the innovative ways technology is changing donations, more specifically focusing on enabling cryptocurrency donations. He shares his insights on enabling transparency in the philanthropy space and some interesting ideas as to enabling innovation.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Rob Zuber, CTO at CircleCI, as they discuss the evolution of Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery/Deployment (CI/CD) technology.
Rob has spent more than 20 years at the forefront of tech innovation and software startups. During this time, he co-founded 4 companies and served as CTO at 3, including CircleCI, the world’s largest shared continuous integration and continuous delivery platform. At CircleCI, he has led the company through its Series B through E rounds, and is currently leading a team of 150+ engineers.
Rob walks us through the evolution of CI/CD from two main perspectives, both closely interlinked - on one hand the evolution of processes and working methodologies (e.g. the impact of Agile) and on the other - the evolution of tools in this space.
The episode explores:
What is Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment?
What are the advantages of implementing CI/CD approach?
How did CI/CD ideas and technologies come about and evolved over the past few decades and who were the key figures behind them?
Has Covid impacted the way or speed at which companies are implementing CI/CD?
What does the future hold? The end of on-call?
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Mark MacMahon, CTO at the Steinbeis School of Management and Innovation in Germany and Dr. Tony Matthews from Griffith University in Australia, as they explore the evolution of educational technology in the context of universities.
Third level institutions have been late to the party when it comes to tech innovation. Users of tech have been generally slow to adopt, and builders of tech have generally gravitated to more lucrative domains.
Covid is changing all of that quite rapidly, and the pressure being put on universities from a range of sources - students unhappy with the ROI from a degree, public health issues limiting the arrival of lucrative foreign students etc - is creating a reckoning for higher education providers.
Tune in to explore how technology can answer those challenges and changing demands, as well as open up a world of opportunities in the higher education space.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Connor Murphy, CEO of Bridge, and a serial entrepreneur and investor, to discuss tech entrepreneurship and what he has learned from his involvement in more than thirty startups.
The world of tech startups is fraught with challenges as well as opportunities, and it can be difficult for company founders to navigate the risks. Connor sheds light on his perspective of tech entrepreneurship, which was gained through 20 years experience working in, setting up, and investing in technology companies.
From the mindset and the founding team selection, to the Venture Capital market, Connor Murphy shares his insights on the mistakes he observes startups often making. Find out what kind of company culture, team structure or investor relationship you need to favor, and how you can avoid the common pitfalls.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO atZartis, is joined by Ronan Ryan, Co-Founder & President ofIEXExchangeand co-host of the Boxes & Linespodcast.
IEX Exchange is the eighth largest stock exchange operator globally in terms of the value of shares traded every day. To put this in context, on a daily basis, IEX Exchange processes more trades than the London stock exchange.
Ronan Ryan walks us through the ins and outs of modern stock trading, high frequency trading, and the early days and evolution of IEX. He shares what it’s like to build an exchange from scratch - from a mindset, technical and business perspective.
We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by James Lapic, Chief Technology Officer at Zipwhip, as they discuss the history and evolution of texting technology.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
The History of Texting Technology:Messaging technology has changed our world in many material and unexpected ways. If we look back at the changes in communication technology, they have some significant societal impacts - the invention of paper in 2nd century BC China is linked to the dissemination of literacy, the invention of the printing press in 1440 brought the reformation and some massive social and cultural changes in Europe. More recently, we can talk about the electrical telegraph, the mobile phone and the focus of today’s episode - text messaging.
The very first SMS was sent in the early 90s, as an engineer discovered that the data channel, which tells a cell phone it’s time to ring, can also be used to transmit small messages.
How has texting evolved since from a technological and user perspective? What are the fundamental differences between SMS and OTT messaging services, such as Facebook messenger, Whatsapp etc? How has texting changed the way people communicate today? How is texting changing business communication? Tune in to explore the world of messaging technology.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman, authors of ‘A Mind at Play,’ a fascinating biography, exploring the life and work of Claude Shannon, considered the Architect of the Information Age.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
Claude Shannon - His Life, Work and Legacy:
Claude Shannon laid the foundation for the digital and information age as we know it today. His insights are at the basis of how every digital computer is built, in how emails are sent, video is streamed, web pages are loaded.
Jimmy and Rob take us on a journey through the fascinating life of Claude Shannon - from his childhood, through his work on circuits and information theory, to his tinkerings - building a fleet of unicycles, the flame-throwing trumpet, rocket-powered frisbee. Tune in to join us on an adventure, as we explore a genius mind at play.
Claude Shannon’s work was largely inspired by the theoretical foundations laid by George Boole. For more of the backstory of George Boole, check outepisode #7 of the History of Software podcast.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Brian Kelly, VP of Engineering at FlipDish, as they explore the history and evolution of the agile movement.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
Agile & The Challenges of Scrum:
The Agile Manifesto was published in 2001 and has largely taken the software industry by storm.
A 2020 report found that 95% of participating companies are using Agile methodologies. While it’s largely debatable to what extent all these companies are actually agile in practice, rather than in theory, the impact and widespread use of Agile methodologies across the software sector today is undeniable.
Why is Agile so incredibly impactful and widely accepted as a way of organizing software development work? How has the movement evolved since it first started? What are the areas in which it hasn’t evolved fast enough? What is Scrum? What are its advantages and limitations in comparison to other agile approaches such as Kanban, XP, etc? What is the future of the agile movement?
Tune in as Padraig and Brian explore this fascinating topic.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO atZartis and podcast host, is joined by Joshua Forman, Director of Engineering atShapeshift, as they explore the evolution of cryptocurrencies and bitcoin.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
From the very first examples of digital currencies, through the evolution of Bitcoin and subsequent cryptocurrencies, to where it’s all headed - this episode explores the technical, social and economic factors that have enabled and driven the adoption of cryptocurrencies.
What is bitcoin and how did it come about? What are the limitations of blockchain and how did that drive the evolution of other cryptocurrencies? What are the security considerations and the infrastructure of technologies around cryptocurrencies? What is the ecological impact? What is next for the cryptocurrencies from an adoption and technical perspective?
Tune in for the answers to those and many more questions, as Josh Forman, shares his insights into this fascinating space.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Colm Lyon, founder of Fire and Realex Payments, as they explore the history of online payments.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
In 1871, Western Union authorized the ability to send money via wire transfer, which marked the dawn of Fintech and technology-driven payments. And yet, the defining moments of the evolution of online payments will follow towards the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century. As with many aspects of life as we know it today, the internet played a key role in shaping the demand and the technology at the base of it. From the way we interact with banks to the emergence and growth of e-commerce - the last few decades marked an increased need for payment technology that enables the changing economy.
What were and what are the technological challenges of building online payments technology? How has the sector evolved in the past decades, as the demand has increased exponentially? Is open banking the future? And what is the opportunity for the up and coming entrepreneurs in the sector? Tune in to hear Colm share his insights.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode,Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined byAlec Turnbull, VP of Product at Dotdash. They explore how the internet has changed how we seek out and learn new things with specific focus on the 1990s and early 2000s.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
In 1993, there were only about 130 websites on the internet. A bit more than a year later, as the first browsers appeared, that number had grown to over 23 000. In 1997, that number was 1.1 million, and today, an estimated 1.7 billion websites exist.
This episode explores how this exponential evolution has impacted the way we look for and consume content, the way we understand and consume media. From the first ad on the internet to the impact of digitalization on the journalistic practice and profession - the episode covers a lot of ground. Tune in for more details!
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode,Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined byJP Beaudry, Vice President of Engineering at edX, as they explore the history of educational technology.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
In 2012, edX published their very first online course called ‘Circuits and Electronics’. More than 155 000 learners signed up and over 7200 passed this rigorous MIT course. To fully understand this number - it would take an MIT professor over 35 years to teach this many students in person. This course alone has reached nearly half a million learners since.
The internet brought in a watershed moment by lowering the barrier of entry to education and allowing world-wide access to information. Education technology has seen an unprecedented rise since, and the Covid crisis seems to have only amplified the demand.
Tune in for this episode, as JP and Padraig explore the evolution of educational technology - from the invention of the printing press to the first iterations of distance learning to the highly complex technology at play today.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
This week Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis and podcast host, is joined by Aidan Donnelly, a technologist who spent many years in the online poker business.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
When and what was the first online poker game? As many other platforms have appeared in the market since, what made some of them succeed and others fail?
Building an online poker platform means 24/7 availability, 100% accuracy when tracking money and the capacity to handle tens of thousands of players at the same time. What are the technical challenges when building an online poker system? What are the architecture and infrastructure considerations? How do you test it? What are the legal issues to consider?
Listen in for the answers to those questions and much more from the world of online poker.
We hope you enjoy listening and share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO of Zartis, is joined by Sean O’Sullivan, CTO at Engage EHS, as they explore the evolution of the Irish tech sector in the second half of the 20th century.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
For the past 5 years, Ireland has ranked as the fastest growing economy in the European Union. This is in no small part due to its booming technology sector. In this episode, we explore how the Irish tech industry as we know it today came to be.
The first stored-program computer was purchased by the Irish Sugar company, and it arrived in Ireland in 1957. Its purpose was to perform complex calculations regarding payments to sugar beet farmers. Around the same time, in 1956, the first multinational – IBM – set up in Ireland. A decade later, in 1968, the first indigenous technology company – System Dynamics – was set up.
In the following decades, Ireland would see a growing number of multinationals and indigenous tech companies open up offices. This has enabled a shift in the wider economic and societal outlook of the country. Moving away from an agrarian society towards high value-added industries, from a conservative to a more liberal society.
To learn more, follow us on a deep dive through the second half of the 20th century in the Irish tech sector.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by André Neubauer, CTO at Smava, to discuss software architecture and its evolution throughout the years.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We live in a changing world and a changing economy, where the demands of the market and the customers evolve at an incredibly rapid pace. Software development has had to adapt. And a major aspect in adapting is re-thinking about the way software is designed.
What is software architecture? What are the main factors that have influenced its evolution? Who owns the architecture in an organization and what are the implications of that? Listen in to hear the details.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode of our tech podcast, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined once again by John Dennehy, Founder of Zartis, Agreeable and Hirehive, to continue their discussion on the evolution of video games. This time, tackling a new decade - the 90s.
The 90s brought in a lot of innovation across the gaming sector. On the games side, we saw the rise of first-shooter games and the further popularization of console and PC games. On the business side, companies were tapping into new demographics, targeting older audiences, while also experimenting with new distribution models, such as shareware.
Tune in to hear more and revisit some of the most popular games of the decade, and the people behind them.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode of our software podcast, we explore the early days of video games, from the first game in 1952 till the glory days of arcade games.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We look into the rise and fall of the early console gaming industry in the 80s. The market collapsed by 97% between 1983 and 1985, as annual revenues across the sector went from 3.2 billion to 100 million.
To learn what caused this crash and what followed in the evolution of video games, tune in!
For this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by John Dennehy, Founder at HireHive, Agreeable and Zartis.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this episode of our weekly software podcast, we look at the life and legacy of George Boole. Boole was a 19th century mathematician, whose work laid the theoretical foundation for digital computing as we know it today.
We explore his symbolic logic and its impact on the evolution of modern computing - from the logic behind 0s and 1s in the circuits of a computer processor, to the instruction sequences at the basis of modern programming languages.
For this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Albena Krasteva, Head of Growth at Zartis.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
Some sources we used and enjoyed:
George Boole, Claude Shannon’s and Alan Turing’s role in Computing Evolution
How Aristotle Created the Computer
Claude Shannon: Reluctant Father of the Digital Age
The Genius of George Boole - How to be a Genius
This is the second episode of our two-part podcast series on the Dot-com bubble of the late 90s. While in episode 5 we explored the inflation of the bubble, we are now looking at the bust.
Between the years 1995 and 2000, there was a 4-fold increase in the NASDAQ index and a level of VC investment in the sector which has never been seen before or since. As the bubble burst, from peak to trough, there was an 80% decline in the NASDAQ index, which took almost 15 years to recover. More than half of the startups of this period went under.
In the context of the wider economic picture, we look at our own history. The Zartis Founder, John Dennehy shares the stories of experiencing the bust first-hand and walks us through the first version of Zartis - a company he founded and sold in the late 90s. The Zartis we know today is 2.0.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We hope you enjoy listening to our tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com.
In this two-part series of episodes, we explore the dot-com bubble of the 1990, which has been referred to as the biggest economic rise and fall in business history.
In this first podcast episode, we look specifically at the inflation of the dotcom bubble - the social, economic and technological factors that defined the era of innovation, excessive valuations and a noticeably changing work culture.
For this podcast episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by John Dennehy, Founder at HireHive, Agreeable and Zartis.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
Tune in for episode 6, which will dive into the burst of the bubble. We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com
For this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by John Dennehy, Founder at HireHive and Zartis.
Episode 3 had covered the birth of hacker culture in the 50s and 60s. Following up, in this episode we look at how the movement progressed in the 1970s. We explore what happened as the centre of gravity shifted to the West Coast, and specifically Northern California.
We look at the pioneering computer networks Arpanet and Darpanet and their French counterpart - Cyclades. The growth in popularity of Unix and C is another pivotal moment of the decade, which poured gasoline on the fire of innovation. And last but not least - we look at the early days of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com or www.zartis.com.
In this episode, we explore Hacker Culture in its early years. We look into the birth of hacker culture in MIT in the late 1950s, and look at the progress of the movement up until 1970.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.What is Hacker Culture?
It is considered hacker culture was born when members of the Tech Model Railroad Club at MIT took an interest in programming. Those were the guys who would physically break into computer labs they didn’t have credentials for, or dumpster dive for hardware parts outside of the buildings of defense contractors in the Boston area. From the Tech Model Railroad Club to John McCarthy, L. Peter Deutsch, Bill Gosper - we explore the evolution of hacker culture through the lives and eccentricities of those driving it.
For this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Antonio Reher, Tech Lead at Zartis.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com or www.zartis.com.
For the second episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Phil Thomas, UI Lead at Zartis.This week, we look at advances in software during the period from 1945 to 1961 - essentially we are looking at the incipient stages of the Cold War, up to the era of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
This period is marked by a hypercompetitive duopoly of superpowers - the US and the USSR. We explore how this rivalry created the context for many advancements in technology, including the early days of supercomputers, the space race, NASA, ARPA/DARPA etc. We additionally explore the first programming languages advancements, including Short Code, Autocode, FORTRAN, and LISP.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com or www.zartis.com.
We start at the start, exploring the dawn of software. From Alan Turing, to Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace - their unique contributions have not only laid the foundations of software as we know it, but in some cases - changed the course of history.
For this episode, Padraig Coffey, CEO at Zartis, is joined by Antonio Reher, Tech Lead at Zartis.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com or www.zartis.com.
Note: The ‘History of Software’ podcast has been rebranded to The Story of Software since the recording of this episode.
Software is changing the world in many powerful ways and to understand what software is doing to the world, we need to understand where it comes from.
The Story of Software is a bi-weekly podcast looking at the people and technology that have transformed our world. It is hosted by Padraig Coffey, CEO of Zartis and historian by academic background.
We hope you enjoy listening and feel free to share any feedback with us: podcast@zartis.com or www.zartis.com.