Shows
LEAD Podcast#32 - Endings are just new beginnings (but also endings)This is the very last episode of the LEAD Podcast.Rene and Geert use the House of Change as a lens to reflect on whether to continue or close this chapter, and ultimately, why it's time to say goodbye.Thank you to all our listeners, guests, and everyone who helped shape this podcast! It's been an incredible journey ❤️2025-04-1712 min
LEAD Podcast#31 - Core vs. Context: Focus on What Really MattersMany companies waste time and resources on infrastructure and internal tools that don’t set them apart. In this episode, Geert and Rene explore core versus context through the lens of engineering culture. They break down why core work—the things that drive competitive advantage—should be the focus, while context, though necessary, should be streamlined or outsourced where possible. Using the pillars of engineering culture, they examine how organizations can align their teams, platforms, and investments to maximize impact. The takeaway: invest in what makes you unique and stop reinventing the wheel.2025-02-2730 min
LEAD Podcast#30 - Future of Software Development in the AI EraIn this episode, Geert and Rene explore the rapid evolution of GenAI and its impact on developers and the software development life cycle. They discuss how tools like co-pilot are transforming developer productivity and speculate on the future, where AI might not only assist but also replace certain aspects of development. They discuss to the broader implications of AI, touching on product ownership, low-code platforms, and how organizations can use AI to increase efficiency while considering ethical concerns. 2025-02-1330 min
LEAD Podcast#29 - Dark Clouds or Bright Horizons for the Dutch government?The Dutch government is increasingly adopting cloud services, but what are the risks and challenges that come with it? In this episode, we examine the findings of the recent report Het Rijk in de Cloud to understand how ministries are using public cloud, where the biggest risks lie, and what lessons can be learned from the government’s cloud strategy.We discuss key concerns such as sovereignty, data protection, and vendor lock-in, as well as the fragmented approach to cloud adoption across ministries. Instead of focusing on the usual headlines or speculation, we take a detailed look at...2025-01-3036 min
LEAD Podcast#28 - Future of IT Leadership with Marcel de Vries from XebiaIn this episode, Geert and Rene sit down with Marcel de Vries, global managing director and CTO at Xebia, to explore the future of IT leadership. Marcel shares key insights from his many years of experience, drawing parallels between past technological revolutions—like electricity, cars, and cloud computing—and today’s rapid changes, such as generative AI. They discuss the psychological barriers to change within organizations, emphasizing how fear and fixed mindsets hinder innovation and Marcel highlights the importance of shifting from rigid, policy-driven models to trust-based, enabling models. It is a fast paced episode with a lot of insigh...2025-01-1632 min
LEAD Podcast#27 - Looking back at 1 year of LEAD Podcast and 2025 predictionsAs we celebrate the one-year anniversary of the LEAD Podcast, Episode 27 serves as a special intermezzo to mark this milestone. While René and Geert take a well-deserved holiday break, we’re keeping our commitment to releasing an episode every second Thursday—so this shorter episode launches as planned on January 2nd. Join us as we reflect on the incredible guests, insightful topics, and defining moments of the past year, while offering a glimpse into what’s ahead for 2025. Thank you for listening and being part of our journey over the past year!2025-01-0224 min
LEAD Podcast#26 - A look under the hood of Toyota's Connected Platform Engineering JourneyIn this episode, Geert and Rene wrap up a year of the LEAD Podcast. They welcome Rob Heckel from Toyota Connected, who shares insights into transforming Toyota's North American division into a tech-forward organization. Rob discusses the challenges and opportunities of building internal developer platforms and the balance between standardization and innovation. He emphasizes starting small, understanding user needs, and leveraging open-source tools for impactful results. Again an inspiring and insightful conversation to close the year. Happy holidays, and see you next year!2024-12-1935 min
LEAD Podcast#25 - Reviewing the State of DevOpsIn this episode, Geert and Rene explore the latest State of DevOps report from DORA, diving into key trends shaping the industry. They discuss the impact of AI, the rise of platform engineering, the importance of developer experience, and the role of transformational leadership. Along the way, they share their own insights and perspectives, making this an engaging conversation for anyone passionate about the future of DevOps.DORA Accelerate state of DevOps Report: https://cloud.google.com/resources/devops/state-of-devops Puppet State of DevOps Report: https://www.puppet.com/blog/state-devops-report-2024 S...2024-12-0539 min
LEAD Podcast#24 - Kubernetes: From running containers to a Cloud Native OS (with Chris van Sluijsveld)In this episode, Geert and Rene explore the complexities of becoming cloud-native, addressing why companies are drawn to Kubernetes and whether it’s always the right solution. They discuss the origins of Kubernetes, its evolution into a standard for container orchestration, and its role as the “OS for the cloud.” Joined by cloud-native consultant Chris van Sluijsveld from Xebia, they unpack the considerations for adopting cloud-native practices, from containerization to hosting models, and highlight the importance of aligning technology with people and processes. 2024-11-2131 min
LEAD Podcast#23 - Crafting a Culture That Makes Vision HappenIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge explore how cultural issues like misalignment, siloed work, and lack of trust prevent companies from executing their digital vision. Inspired by Patty McCord’s Powerful, they discuss building a culture of trust and alignment to drive success.2024-11-0730 min
LEAD Podcast#22 - Learn today and lead tomorrow with a learning organizationIn this episode, Geert and Rene dive into the concept of building a learning organization and why it's crucial for companies to encourage continuous learning among their employees. They discuss how technical debt can impact talent retention and how outdated technology can push engineers to seek more exciting opportunities elsewhere. Along the way they dive into a few strategies to keep teams engaged, such as pairing experienced and less-experienced engineers, working on psychological safety, and promoting knowledge sharing within the company and how this is more than merely formal training.Tune in to learn how...2024-10-2434 min
LEAD Podcast#21 - The difference between speaking and being understoodIn this episode Geert and Rene investigate the art of communication. Why is it so hard to convey the message you want to convey. Even if people want to achieve the same goals, it still is hard to make yourself clear, or to understand the other one. They will dive into a number of issues they encountered in various settings and discuss some strategies how people with a technical background can get better at it.2024-10-1034 min
LEAD Podcast#20 - Rebuild or Refactor? - That is the question!In this episode, Geert and Rene dive into the dilemma of app modernization, discussing whether companies should rebuild or refactor their applications. They explore the complexity of this decision, highlighting the importance of understanding why businesses even consider it. Legacy systems often become difficult to maintain, especially with evolving technology and customer demands, and the discussion touches on factors like technical debt, the framing effect, and the challenges of outdated tech stacks. But it is not only a technical decision....2024-09-2635 min
LEAD Podcast#19 - The Uniform Tech Stack Fallacy: Embracing Diversity for SuccessIn this episode, Geert and Rene are joined by Casper Jensen, Engineering Director of Enterprise Architecture at Pandora, to explore the pursuit of a single, unified tech solution in large organisations. They dive into the fallacy of the uniform tech stack and why chasing "one generic system" often leads to setbacks. Casper shares his experiences on how embracing diversity in technologies, teams, and approaches can drive success. Together, they discuss how this diversity fosters resilience, innovation, and adaptability, making it a powerful strategy for thriving in today’s complex IT landscape.2024-09-1233 min
LEAD Podcast#18 - High Performing Engineering TeamsIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge dive into the concept of high-performing teams. They challenge the common perception that technical skills alone define a high-performing team, questioning the idea of the "10x developer" and comparing it to the dynamics of sports teams. Geert and Rene discuss the importance of having a balanced mix of team members, emphasizing the need for both technical skills and essential soft skills such as communication and teamwork. They explore the "Six Types of Working Genius" model by Patrick Lencioni, highlighting the different roles and skills...2024-08-2933 min
LEAD Podcast#17 - Quantum Leap with Hanna EngelIn this episode we're taking a Quantum Leap in the future. What will the impact of Quantum Computing be for our IT industry and society?Is it something so complex it's hard to grasp for most or can we try to comprehend it without knowing all the technical details like we have now with generative AI trend?Hanna explains the basic concepts of Quantum computing, what use cases it is valuable in and how you can get ready to use it today and in the future!https://www.linkedin.com/in/trainerengel/...2024-08-1530 min
LEAD Podcast#16 - Architecture without architectsIn this episode, Geert and Rene talk about the role of architects in software development, challenging traditional views and advocating for a more dynamic and inclusive approach. They discuss the concept of "architecture without architects," emphasizing collective team ownership and hands-on experience for making informed architectural decisions. The conversation highlights the shift towards agile practices and continuous architectural decision-making within autonomous teams, facilitated by tools like Architecture Decision Records (ADRs). They also explore the organizational implications, suggesting a move towards flatter structures to promote inclusive architectural discussions. 2024-08-0134 minLEAD Podcast#15 - The role of UX in Software Development with Dean SchusterIn this episode, Geert and Rene delve into the crucial role of user experience (UX) in software development together with their guest Dean Schuster from TrueMatter.Dean highlights the importance of UX and the need to make digital products not just functional but enjoyable. He explains that UX involves understanding user needs and iterating designs to ensure they resonate with users. In this episode we explore how UX fits into agile development and some challenges with convincing stakeholders to invest in UXFor further learning, he recommends resources like "The Design of Everyday T...2024-07-1832 min
LEAD Podcast#14 - Measure what mattersIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge talk about the complex topic of measuring productivity in an engineering culture. They discuss the often heard needs among managers to quantify developer productivity. They discuss the limitations of traditional Agile metrics like team velocity, which can be misleading when used outside their intended context.Geert and Rene emphasize the importance of understanding the 'why' behind the need for metrics, comparing traditional waterfall approaches with modern Agile practices. They discuss the value of DORA metrics, which focus on broader value-producing measures like...2024-07-0428 min
LEAD Podcast#13 - The importance of an engineering culture with Jennifer WadellaIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, recorded live from Techorama, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge talk about building strong engineering cultures with guest Jennifer Wadella, VP of Front-End Engineering at Bitovi. Jennifer talks about the importance of establishing a positive engineering culture and how it directly impacts productivity and business outcomes.
She breaks down the components of engineering culture into values, beliefs, norms, language, and rituals, and discusses practical steps for defining and nurturing these elements within a team. The conversation touches on the challenges of aligning technical skills with...2024-06-2029 min
LEAD Podcast#12 - Decisions, Decisions: The Art of Thinking Critically with Laïla BougriâIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge record live from Techorama, where they are joined by guest Laïla Bougriâ from Particular Software. The discussion centers around the challenges of critical thinking in software development, especially in decision-making processes. Laïla shares insights on avoiding unconscious biases, the importance of a structured approach to decision-making, and the value of documenting problems and solutions thoroughly. She introduces the concept of Request for Comments (RFC) for major decisions and Architecture Decision Records (ADR) for smaller ones, emphasizing the need for collaboration and feedback to...2024-06-0629 min
LEAD Podcast#11 - Debugging the Human Factor with Arthur DolerIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and Rene are live at Techorama Belgium, discussing the importance of soft skills in technical environments. They welcome guest Arthur Doler, a software engineer and community steward at Aviture, who shares insights from his 20-year career. Arthur emphasizes the necessity of understanding human dynamics in building high-performing teams, highlighting that technical skills alone are insufficient.
Arthur delves into the concept of psychological safety, explaining its critical role in fostering open communication and managing conflict within teams. He shares compelling stories and research to illustrate how creating a...2024-05-2335 min
LEAD PodcastA message about choosing the right architecture from Adam RalphIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and René broadcast live from Techorama Belgium amidst the buzz of the conference. They delve into the complexities of distributed systems with Adam Ralph from Particular Software, who shares insights from his eight years of experience with NServiceBus. The trio discuss the common pitfalls of designing your own systems, especially when off-the-shelf solutions like messaging frameworks can streamline development and reduce costs. The conversation also explores practical strategies for transitioning legacy systems to the cloud without succumbing to the risks of a full rewrite. We would like to thank Te...2024-05-0929 min
LEAD Podcast#09 - FinOps: Controlling the price of progressIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge delve into the escalating costs of cloud services and the emerging discipline of Financial Operations, or FinOps. They discuss why some companies are shifting from cloud back to on-premises data centers due to cost concerns and how FinOps aims to manage and control these expenses effectively. They explore how FinOps fosters collaboration among engineering, finance, and business teams to make informed, data-driven spending decisions, maximizing business value from cloud investments. And they touch upon the cultural shifts necessary for implementing FinOps, including educating teams...2024-04-2530 min
LEAD Podcast#08 - Enabling a new generation of developers @ GitHub (with April Edwards)In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and René explore the impact of generative AI on the tech industry with special guest April Edwards from GitHub. They discuss the evolving role of developers, architects, and technical professionals in an AI-assisted future. April shares insights on how AI is enhancing productivity and creativity in software development, the importance of human oversight in AI-generated code, and the potential for AI to assist with tasks beyond coding. The conversation also touches on the cultural and process changes needed for effective AI adoption within organizations.2024-04-1133 min
LEAD Podcast#07 - Growing a DevOps MindsetIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge talk about the often overlooked challenge of cultural resistance in the face of technical changes within organizations. They dive into the concept of a DevOps and growth mindset and the role this plays in enabling teams to break out of silos and work together effectively.
From their own experience they talk about common behavior they see, fears that lie underneath and some guidance on how to deal with change projects.
Anyone that is interested in...2024-03-2833 min
LEAD Podcast#06 - (Em)Powering Startup Engineering Culture @ AtlasIn this episode, Geert and Rene delve into the challenges and strategies of starting a tech company with limited resources. They are joined by Harald Tryti Rieber, co-founder and CTO of Atlas (formerly known as Enernite), a company focused on renewable energy and map automation. Harald shares his journey from passion to product, emphasizing the importance of being lean, customer-focused, and embracing the 90-10 rule for efficiency. He discusses the transition from serving a niche market to a broader audience, the role of culture in empowering employees, and the balance between feature development and cost management. The conversation also...2024-03-1425 min
LEAD Podcast#05 - Ops we did it again: A discussion about SREIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and René van Osnabrugge tackle the evolving landscape of the tech industry, focusing on the shift from operations roles to Site Reliability Engineering (SRE). They embark on a journey to demystify SRE, tracing its origins back to Google and its founder, Benjamin Treynor Sloss. They delve into the critical components of SRE, including Service Level Objectives (SLOs), Service Level Indicators (SLIs), and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and how these elements facilitate a balance between operational stability and the need for continuous innovation. And... while they are at it, h...2024-02-2928 min
LEAD Podcast#04 - Stacking success with Developer Experience @ LEGOIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and René van Osnabrugge delve into the evolving concept of Developer Experience (DevX), a term gaining momentum in the tech world for its focus on enhancing the productivity and satisfaction of developers. This episode features a special guest, Rasmus Hald from LEGO, who shares his journey of implementing DevX within the iconic toy company. Rasmus discusses the challenges and successes of building a culture that prioritizes the developer experience, emphasizing the importance of tool discoverability, efficient workflows, and the innovative use of generative AI to i...2024-02-1532 min
LEAD Podcast#03 - Is DevOps dead or evolving with Platform Engineering?In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and René van Osnabrugge explore the dynamic world of DevOps and platform engineering. Addressing the provocative notion that "DevOps is dead," they delve into why this is a misconception fueled by marketing trends. The discussion centers on the coexistence and compatibility of DevOps and platform engineering, rather than seeing them as conflicting practices.2024-02-0127 min
LEAD Podcast#02 - Navigating Digital Strategy @ KongsbergIn this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and René van Osnabrugge engage in a fascinating discussion with Gullik Jensen, a Product Director from Kongsberg Digital, focusing on the transformation of traditional industries through digital innovation. They delve into the challenges of aligning company vision with digital strategy, particularly in industries that have historically been hardware-focused. Gullik shares his experience in transitioning maritime simulators from physical installations to digital, cloud-based services, highlighting the importance of developing a clear digital vision that is both tangible and aligned with the company's purpose.
They also d...2024-01-1826 min
LEAD Podcast#01 - What defines an engineering culture
In this first episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and René van Osnabrugge embark on an insightful journey exploring the intricacies of IT success in companies. They delve into why some businesses excel in IT while others struggle, regardless of their size or industry. The focus is on the concept of an engineering culture, dissected into eight fundamental pillars: clear digital vision, state-of-the-art software engineering, smooth delivery, appropriate continuity, power through platforms, empowering operating model, knowledge-driven approach, and creating an epic workplace.
Throughout the episode, Geert and René go th...2024-01-0422 min
LEAD Podcast#00 - Introducing the LEAD Podcast (trailer)Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge are excited to announce their new venture in 2024: the LEAD Podcast. This innovative podcast is designed specifically for leaders in engineering, architecture, and development.Join us in this exciting journey to discover the essentials of leading in the tech world. Stay tuned for engaging conversations, expert insights, and practical advice on building and nurturing high-performing teams in the tech industry.
Key Topics:
Engineering Culture: Exploring the pillars of a strong engineering culture, including development, culture platforms, and knowledge sharing.High-Performing Software Organizations: Focusing...2023-12-1901 min