Shows
Typo LiveWebinar: The Hows & Whats of DORA | Mario Mechoulam & Joan CapellIn this session of ‘The Hows and Whats of DORA’ Webinar, powered by Typo and hosted by Kovid Batra, panelists Mario Viktorov Mechoulam, Senior Engineering Manager at ContentSquare, and Joan Díaz Capell, Engineering Manager at New Relic, share their expertise on DORA metrics and their real-world application to enhance engineering outcomes.They discuss how to effectively use DORA metrics to track and improve dev team performance, and explore advanced topics like Monte Carlo forecasting and using qualitative data to track team health. The session emphasizes the importance of aligning engineering metrics with business goals and product succe...2025-05-041h 05
groCTO PodcastSuresh Bysani from Eightfold | Engineering Management in the Age of GenAIHow do engineering leaders stay relevant in the age of Generative AI?With the rise of GenAI, engineering teams are rethinking productivity, prototyping, and scalability. But AI is only as powerful as the engineering practices behind it.In this episode of the groCTO by Typo Podcast, host Kovid Batra speaks with Suresh Bysani, Director of Engineering at Eightfold, about the real-world impact of AI on engineering leadership. From writing boilerplate code to scaling enterprise platforms, Suresh shares practical insights and hard-earned lessons from the frontlines of tech.💡 Highlights🧠 GenAI in Engineering: Boosting productivity withou...2025-04-0432 min
Typo LiveWebinar: The Hows & Whats of DORA | Mario Mechoulam & Kshitij MohanIn this session of ‘The Hows and Whats of DORA’ Webinar, powered by Typo and hosted by Kovid Batra, panelists Mario Viktorov Mechoulam, a metrics expert & Senior Engineering Manager at ContentSquare, and Kshitij Mohan, Co-Founder and CEO of Typo, delve into the importance of adopting data-driven methodologies in engineering teams. They discuss the relevance of DORA metrics, the evolution of these metrics over time, and emphasize the significance of cycle time and work in progress for efficiency. The discussion covers best practices for implementing and optimizing these metrics while avoiding common pitfalls, maintaining a balance between speed and s...2025-03-3058 min
groCTO PodcastMario Viktorov Mechoulam from Contentsquare | Data-Driven Engineering: Building a Culture of MetricsHow do you build a culture of engineering metrics that drives real impact? Engineering teams often struggle with inefficiencies—high work-in-progress, unpredictable cycle times, and slow shipping. But what if the right metrics could change that?In this episode of the groCTO by Typo Podcast, host Kovid Batra speaks with Mario Viktorov Mechoulam, Senior Engineering Manager at Contentsquare, about how to establish a data-driven engineering culture using effective metrics. From overcoming cultural resistance to getting executive buy-in, Mario shares his insights on making metrics work for your team.💡 Highlights🔥 Why Metrics Matter: Fixing ineffici...2025-03-1332 min
Typo LiveWebinar: Unlocking Engineering Productivity | Clint Calleja & Rens MethrattaIn the third session of 'Unlocking Engineering Productivity' webinar by Typo, host Kovid Batra converses with engineering leaders Clint Calleja and Rens Methratta about strategies for enhancing team productivity.Clint, Senior Director of Engineering at Contentsquare, and Rens, CTO at Prendio, share their perspectives on the importance of psychological safety, clear communication, and the integration of AI tools to boost productivity. The panel emphasizes balancing short-term deliverables with long-term technical debt, and the vital role of culture and clear goals in aligning teams. Through discussions on personal experiences, challenges, and learnings, the session provides actionable insights for...2025-03-031h 03
groCTO PodcastC S Sriram from Betterworks | How EMs Break into Leadership—Road to SuccessIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra speaks with C S Sriram, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, about his journey from an Engineering Manager to a VP of Engineering, navigating leadership challenges, and scaling engineering teams effectively.Sriram shares insights into the critical mindset shifts required to transition from managing execution to driving strategy at an executive level. He highlights the importance of mentorship, coaching, and building a high-performing engineering culture, while balancing business objectives with technical excellence.The conversation also covers the challenges of leadership at scale, including how to set...2025-02-2142 min
groCTO PodcastSheeya Gem from Progress ShareFile | Guiding Dev Teams Through an AcquisitionIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra speaks with Sheeya Gem, Director of Engineering and Product Strategy at Progress ShareFile, about her experiences leading dev teams through mergers and acquisitions.Sheeya discusses the importance of building collaborative relationships with stakeholders, maintaining effective communication, and fostering a shared purpose among teams. She emphasizes the significance of continuous learning, adaptability, and leveraging tools and processes to keep projects on track. The conversation also touches on managing cultural transitions, supporting teams through change, and ensuring successful integration post-acquisition. Finally, Sheeya shares valuable parting advice for engineering leaders...2025-02-0733 min
Typo LiveWebinar: Unlocking Engineering Productivity | Ariel Pérez & Cesar RodriguezIn the second session of the 'Unlocking Engineering Productivity' webinar by Typo, host Kovid Batra engages engineering leaders Cesar Rodriguez and Ariel Pérez in a conversation about building high-performing development teams. Cesar, VP of Engineering at StackGen, shares insights on ingraining curiosity and the significance of documentation and testing. Ariel, Head of Product and Technology at Tinybird, emphasizes the importance of clear communication, collaboration, and the role of AI in enhancing productivity. The panel discusses overcoming common productivity misconceptions, addressing burnout, and implementing effective metrics to drive team performance. Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, the s...2025-01-291h 01
groCTO PodcastAnton Zaides from Taranis | Leading Dev Teams Vs Platform TeamsIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra interviews Anton Zaides, the Director of Engineering at Taranis and author of the Leading Developers newsletter. The focus of their discussion is on the challenges and strategies involved in leading development teams versus platform teams. Anton explores the distinctions between overseeing development teams and platform teams, emphasizing the necessity for product engineers to grasp platform operations. He shares his experience in fostering collaboration and understanding by role-swapping between product and platform engineers for short periods, which has proven to be enlightening and beneficial for both sides. He...2025-01-2431 min
groCTO PodcastMaher Hanafi from Betterworks | Driving Engineering Productivity as a VPEIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra welcomes Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, to discuss engineering productivity hacks. Maher shares insights from his 16+ years of engineering and leadership experience, emphasizing the importance of passion and individualized growth paths for team members.He recounts how his early interest in gaming and experiences as a guild master in World of Warcraft shaped his leadership style, teaching him valuable lessons in social intelligence and teamwork. Maher outlines his proprietary framework for peak performance focusing on shared understanding, trust, and competence, and highlights the significant benefits...2025-01-1147 min
groCTO PodcastDavid Archer from Imagine Learning | Integrating Acquired Tech TeamsIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra interviews David Archer, the Director of Software Engineering at Imagine Learning, with over 12 years of experience in engineering and leadership, including a tenure at Amazon. The discussion centers on successfully integrating acquired teams, a critical issue following company mergers and acquisitions. David shares his approach to onboarding new team members, implementing a buddy system, and fostering a growth mindset and no-blame culture to mitigate high attrition rates. He further discusses the importance of having clear documentation, pairing sessions, and promoting collaboration across international teams. Additionally, David touches...2024-12-1329 min
Typo LiveWebinar: Unlocking Engineering Productivity | Paulo André & Denis ČahukIn the first session of the 'Unlocking Engineering Productivity' webinar series, host Kovid Batra from Typo welcomes two prominent engineering leaders: Paulo André, CTO of Resquared, and Denis Čahuk, a technical coach and TDD/DDD expert.They discuss the importance of engineering productivity and share insights about their journeys. Paulo emphasizes the significance of collaboration in software development and the pitfalls of focusing solely on individual productivity metrics. Denis highlights the value of consistent improvement and reliability over individual velocity. Both guests underline the importance of creating clarity and making work visible within teams to enhance productivity. Au...2024-12-081h 10
groCTO PodcastBen Matthews from Stack Overflow | Leading Tech Teams at Stack OverflowIn this episode of the groCTO Podcast, host Kovid Batra is joined by Ben Matthews, Senior Director of Engineering at Stack Overflow, with over 20 years of experience in engineering and leadership. Ben shares his career journey from QA to engineering leadership, shedding light on the importance of creating organizations that function collaboratively rather than just executing tasks independently. He underscores the need for cross-functional teamwork and reducing friction points to build cohesive and successful teams. Ben also addresses the challenges and opportunities presented by the AI revolution, emphasizing Stack Overflow’s strategy to embrace and leverage AI in...2024-11-2930 min
groCTO PodcastGeoffrey Teale from Upvest | Product Thinking Secrets for Platform TeamsIn this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages in a comprehensive discussion with Geoffrey Teale, the Principal Product Engineer at Upvest, who brings over 25 years of engineering and leadership experience.The episode begins with Geoffrey's role at Upvest, where he has transitioned from Head of DevEx to Principal Product Engineer, emphasizing a holistic approach to improving both developer experience and engineering standards across the organization. The discussion further delves into the significance of product thinking for internal teams, highlighting the challenges and strategies of building platforms that resonate with developers' needs while competing...2024-11-1532 min
groCTO PodcastChristopher Zotter from Sky | The Art & Science of Leading Global Dev TeamsIn this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages in an insightful conversation with Christopher Zotter, the Head of Digital Engineering at Sky, Germany. Christopher brings a wealth of experience, including a decade of leading engineering teams and founding a software development agency.Known for his unique leadership philosophy, Christopher believes in the power of building trust, embracing failures, and fostering a transparent culture. He shares his journey from an apprentice in Germany to a leadership role, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and continuous learning. The discussion delves into the challenges and strategies...2024-11-0132 min
groCTO PodcastVilas Veeraraghavan, ex-Walmart | DevEx: It’s NOT Just About Dev Tools!In this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra engages with Vilas, an accomplished engineering leader with significant experience at companies like Walmart, Netflix, and Bill.com. They discuss the concept of Developer Experience (DevEx) and how it extends beyond simply providing tools. Vilas highlights the importance of enabling developers with frictionless processes and addresses the multidimensional challenges involved. The conversation delves into Vilas’s journey in DevEx, insights from designing platforms and enabling developer productivity, and the necessity of engaging with key opinion leaders for successful adoption. Vilas shares personal anecdotes and learning experiences, st...2024-10-1839 min
Typo LiveWebinar: The Hows & Whats of DORA | Dave Farley & Denis ČahukIn this DORA exclusive webinar, hosted by Kovid from Typo, notable software engineers Dave Farley and Denis Čahuk discuss the profound impact of DORA metrics on engineering productivity. Dave, co-author of 'Continuous Delivery,' emphasized the transition to continuous delivery (CD) and its significant benefits, involving systematic quality improvements and efficient software release cycles. Denis, a technical coach and TDD/DDD expert shared insights into overcoming resistance to CD adoption. The discussion covered the challenges associated with measuring productivity, differentiating between continuous delivery and continuous deployment, and the essential role of team dynamics in successful implementation. The s...2024-10-071h 00
groCTO PodcastCarlos Neves from Vitality | Mastering the IC to Engineering Manager TransitionIn this episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, host Kovid Batra is joined by Carlos Neves, the Head of Engineering at Vitality, as they explore the often challenging transition from an individual contributor (IC) to an Engineering Manager (EM).With over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership, Carlos shares his journey from Portugal to the UK, his initial interest in computer science influenced by a cousin, and his passion for salsa dancing. The discussion delves into the importance of gaining horizontal exposure within an organization, understanding the nuances of management beyond technical skills, and building confidence...2024-10-0435 min
groCTO PodcastJagannath Kintali from Dojo | Impactful Engineering: The Secret to Customer DelightWelcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra talks with Jagannath Kintali, former Head of Engineering at Dojo and ex-startup co-founder, about building impactful engineering teams focused on customer delight.Jagannath shares his extensive experience of over 18+ years in engineering, discussing the importance of building what is needed rather than overshooting with extravagant systems. He emphasises creating high-performance teams through trust, purpose, and customer empathy. Jagannath highlights his journey, the learnings from his startup, and how he implemented these insights at Dojo, including stories about curtain ordering systems and observability projects. Th...2024-09-2037 min
groCTO PodcastVenkat Rangasamy from Oracle | How AI is Revolutionizing Software EngineeringWelcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra sits down with Venkat Rangasamy, Director of Engineering at Oracle and an advisory member at HBR, to discuss how AI is reshaping the engineering landscape. Venkat shares his journey from a humble background to leading at Oracle, diving into his passion for mentorship and the revolutionary impact of AI on the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).In this episode, Venkat explores how AI is making product development faster, cheaper, and more efficient, while also addressing the challenges of using public versus local LLMs. He...2024-09-0633 min
Typo LiveWebinar: The Hows & Whats of DORA | Bryan Finster & Richard PangbornTypo recently hosted Session 2 of "The Hows and Whats of DORA" webinar, featuring Bryan Finster, a Value Stream Architect at Defense Unicorns and co-author of 'How to Misuse and Abuse DORA Metrics’, alongside Richard Pangborn, Manager of Software Development at Method:CRM. The session, led by host Kovid from Typo, delved into the implementation and challenges of DORA (DevOps Research and Assessment) metrics. Bryan and Richard discussed their professional backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of continuous delivery and value stream management. Bryan provided insights from his experience at Walmart and Defense Unicorns, explaining the pitfalls of misusing DORA me...2024-08-3049 min
groCTO PodcastJames Charlesworth from Pendo | Product vs Engineering: Building Bridges, Not WallsWelcome to today’s episode of the groCTO Originals podcast, where host Kovid Batra interviews James Charlesworth, Director of Engineering, Sheffield Site Lead at Pendo, to discuss the common conflict between product and engineering teams. James brings over 15 years of experience in engineering and leadership to share strategies for fostering empathy, collaboration, and effective communication. He emphasizes the importance of understanding each team's priorities, the impact of misalignment, and how impactful one-on-one interactions can build trust within teams.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨💻 James’ background and early passion for tech🎸 Explorin...2024-08-2231 min
groCTO PodcastVladislav Maličević from Jedox | Inside Jedox: The Buy vs. Build DebateWelcome to another episode of exploring tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra welcomes Vladislav Maličević, CTO at Jedox.Vlado shares his 20-year journey from being one of the first developers at Jedox to becoming the CTO of the company. He discusses his personal background, the growth and transformation of Jedox, and the company's strategic decisions, including the shift from open-source to a full-fledged cloud platform.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid✨ Vladislav’s introduction🇩🇪 Personal life & shift to Germanyb) Professional Journey👨🏻💻 Vlado’s...2024-08-1632 min
groCTO PodcastLeonid Bugaev from Tyk | Thriving in Recession: Guide for Tech LeadersWelcome to another episode of exploring tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra welcomes Leonid Bugaev, Head of Engineering at Tyk.With 20 years in IT, mostly with startups, Leo brings a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and leadership. He’ll share his insights on navigating economic downturns, building strong engineering teams, and keeping motivation high in tough times. Leo’s focus on transparent communication and strategic priorities offers valuable guidance for thriving in any economic climate.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻💻 Leonid’s introduction✨ Personal life & hobbiesb) Professional J...2024-08-0942 min
Typo LiveWebinar: The Hows & Whats of DORA | Nathen Harvey & Ido ShvekiTypo recently hosted an engaging live webinar titled “The Hows and Whats of DORA”, featuring DORA expert Nathen Harvey and special guest Ido Shveki. With over 170 attendees, they explored DORA and other crucial engineering metrics in depth.Nathen Harvey, the DORA Lead & Developer Advocate at Google Cloud, and Ido, the VP of R&D at BeeHero, one of Typo’s valued customers, brought their unique insights to the discussion.The session explored why only 5-10% of engineering teams actively use DORA metrics and examined the current state of data-driven metrics like DORA and SPACE. It also h...2024-08-0746 min
groCTO PodcastSergio Visinoni | Maslow's Hierarchy for Tech TeamsWelcome to today's podcast episode, where we dive deep into the minds shaping the future of tech leadership! Today, your host Kovid Batra sits down with Sergio Visinoni, who is many things - a visionary Fractional CTO, Tech Advisor, and Mentor at groCTO Community. He’s also the brilliant mind behind the newsletter 'Sudo Make Me a CTO'.Sergio made a bold leap from the traditional VP of Engineering role to the world of solopreneurship, and he hasn’t looked back since. In this episode, he’ll unravel how he’s reimagined Maslow’s hierarchy for tech and busine...2024-08-0230 min
groCTO PodcastPeter Peret Lupo from Sibli | DORA Implementation & Tech DebtIn this episode, Kovid Batra hosts Peter Peret Lupo, Head of Software Engineering at Sibli. With over a decade of experience in engineering and management, Peter also shares his most effective management strategies on his blog.Peter begins by emphasizing the vital role that engineering metrics play in shaping organizational culture. He delves into topics such as code collaboration, the relationship between metrics and technical debt, and the challenges and timelines involved in implementation and adoption.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🙋♂️ Peter’s introduction🎮 Hobbies & current interests🇨🇦 Moving to Ca...2024-07-2629 min
groCTO PodcastBen Parisot from Planet Argon | DORA & the SPACE frameworkThe Dora Lab - Ep. 03In this episode, Kovid Batra welcomes Ben Parisot, Software Engineering Manager at Planet Argon, with over 10 years of experience in engineering and engineering management.Ben delves into engineering metrics, specifically DORA & the SPACE framework, highlighting their impact on customer satisfaction & DevEx, discusses implementation challenges, and shares strategies to overcome them, along with other insights!💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🙋♂️ Ben’s introduction🎨 Hobbies & current interestsb) Professional Journey🛠️ What does Planet Argon do?💼 Ben’s responsibilities at...2024-07-1933 min
groCTO PodcastLeigh Rathbone from CAVU | Evolution of Software TestingWelcome to today's episode of the podcast! Your host, Kovid Batra, sits down with Leigh Rathbone, Head of Quality Engineering at CAVU, with past contributions to various reputable organisations like Sony Ericsson & The Very Group.Leigh has been at the forefront of tech innovation, from developing the first touchscreen smartphone and smartwatch to working with AR, VR, and AI tech. In this episode, he shares his insights on the evolution of software testing and automation. Tune in to hear his thoughts on balancing human effort and AI in the tech world.💡 Highlightsa...2024-07-1235 min
groCTO PodcastPaul Lewis from Pythian | Team Building 101In this episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Paul Lewis, a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years of experience. Paul has held prominent roles, including CTO at Hitachi Vantara, and currently serves as CTO at Pythian.In addition to his professional roles, Paul actively contributes to academia as a board member of the Schulich School of Business. In today’s episode, Paul shares his insights on building tech teams from scratch, offering valuable perspectives from his vast experience in the technology sector.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻💻 Paul’s introduction🌈 Witnessing a s...2024-07-0331 min
groCTO PodcastJacob Singh from Alpha Wave Global | DevEx for Gen ZIn this episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Jacob Singh, CTO in Residence at Alpha Wave Global. Jacob's impressive career spans over two decades, during which he has held pivotal CTO and Director roles at renowned startups and organizations such as Blinkit, Sequoia Capital, and Acquia. Being a coder & a manager, Jacob understands the challenges faced by both developers & tech leaders and so, we’re super excited to bring to you his extensive knowledge of improving developer experience through this podcast.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid👨🏻💻 Jacob’s background & upbringing🇮🇳 Moving to Ind...2024-06-2634 min
groCTO PodcastRoman Kuba from Tset | People-first StartupsIn this episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Roman Kuba, VP of Engineering at a tech-based startup Tset. Roman brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at renowned organizations including GitLab, Cloudbees, and CodeSandbox.Roman explores the intricate dynamics of scaling a startup with a people-first approach, balancing effort & value delivery and overcoming challenges along the way by learning from one’s mistakes.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🏆 Roman’s life-defining moments🇦🇹 Moving from Australia to Austriab) Professional Journey💼 Roman’s role & responsibili...2024-06-1924 min
groCTO PodcastGlenn Santos from PDAX | First 90 Days of LeadershipIn today’s episode, host Kovid Batra is joined by Glenn Santos, VP of Engineering at PDAX. Glenn is also dedicated to empowering developers to become leaders with his initiative eHeads, a community for engineering leaders to exchange experiences and insights. His vast experience includes valuable contributions to renowned companies such as Salarium, TraXion Tech Inc., and HCX Technology Partners.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🏆 Glenn’s life-defining moment🍝 Being a foodie & an avid car loverb) Professional Journey🚀 Discovering TechCrunch & outsourcing💼 Glenn’s r...2024-06-1224 min
groCTO PodcastMiroslaw & Francis | Leading Dev TeamsIn today’s episode, Kovid Batra is joined by two dynamic engineering leaders: Miroslaw Stanek and Francis Lacoste.Miroslaw, the Director of Engineering and PL Engineering Site Lead for the Poland R&D division at Papaya Global, also authors the much-loved newsletter ‘Practical Engineering Management’.Francis, an expert at fostering high-performing, collaborative cultures, is a VPE and CTO Coach specializing in helping startups scale up! He brings invaluable insights to this episode from his time with Heroku and its acquisition by Salesforce later on.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🚵🏻♀️ M...2024-06-0545 min
groCTO PodcastLubo Drobny from Cisco | Building Teams vs. Branching OutIn this episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Lubo Drobny, Senior Leader & Software Engineering Coach at Cisco. With an impressive professional background at Seimens & SAP Labs, Lubo also actively contributes to the tech community through blogging, hosting podcasts, and organizing meetups centered around product and software engineering topics. Today, you can find Lubo talking about building teams from scratch vs branching, engineering metrics, team excellence, & much more.💡 Highlightsa) Getting Candid🍃 Lubo’s love for programming, hiking & gardening.👨🏫 A life-defining moment in Lubo’s career shaping his current coaching style. 2024-05-2929 min
groCTO PodcastJörg Godauf from Doctorly | Leading with EmpathyIn this episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Jörg Godau, Chief Digital Officer at Doctorly and one of the founding members of The EL Club in Berlin, Germany. His vast experience includes valuable contributions to renowned companies such as VRR Consulting UG, Nortal, and IBM. The discussion revolves around ‘Leading with Empathy & Compassion’.The episode kicks off with Jörg discussing his hobbies and life-defining events before delving into his role and daily challenges at Doctorly. He emphasizes leveraging user insights and business understanding for software development and aligning individual career aspirations with organizational needs during team scalin...2024-05-2236 min
groCTO PodcastRicardo Castro from Fanduel | DevOps, SRE & Platform EngineeringIn this episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Ricardo Castro, Platform Engineer/SRE at FanDuel.The episode kicks off with Ricardo shedding light on his personal interests and transformative life experiences. He imparts valuable wisdom on differentiating between DevOps, SRE, and Platform Engineers. He also advises adopting best practices for implementing CI/CD pipelines in startups, medium-sized enterprises, and large corporations and presenting a robust framework for cultivating effective DevOps teams.Lastly, Ricardo provokes thoughtful reflection on whether deployment frequency truly encapsulates DevOps efficiency, or if the focus should shift towards the value delivered.2024-05-1434 min
groCTO PodcastClaus Höfele | Engineering Leadership 101This episode features Claus Höfele, Head of Engineering at On and the author of the newsletter ‘Drawn to Leadership’. He has a rich technical background at the Doctari Group, eBay Classifieds, Sony Ericsson, and more.The episode begins with Claus sharing the core function of his company ‘On’ and the inspiration behind his newsletter. Following that, he explores his definition of ‘Leadership’ and describes his journey from a software engineer to a leader. He also offers insights into his role as a Director of Engineering, managing multiple teams, context switching, and escalations, particularly in lean structures or...2024-05-0827 min
groCTO PodcastAriel Pérez from Strip | Bridging Cross-Functional Communication GapsIn this episode, we welcome Ariel Pérez, VP of Engineering at Strip. He has also previously contributed his expertise to JP Morgan Chase & Co. and Berchbox.The episode begins with a quick fireside chat, where Ariel reveals his love for Latin dance, especially Salsa, and recounts a life-defining moment. Moving further into the main section, he shares details of his day-to-day responsibilities as a VP of Engineering at Split, which includes creating an environment for success and enabling his cross-functional teams to establish the right context.Addressing the communication gap challenge, he a...2024-05-0134 min
groCTO PodcastSebastian from Tonies | Insourcing & Self-DeterminationIn this episode, join Sebastian Heide-Meyer zu Erpen, VP of Technology at Tonies, and a professional mentor at the Mentoring Club.Sebastian delves into the transition from an IC to a managerial role at Tonies, elucidating his day-to-day responsibilities and the challenges he faces. He emphasizes the strategic move towards insourcing development, illustrating the process of building and scaling a robust tech team through meticulous hiring practices and adept incident management.Additionally, Sebastian elaborates on the four crucial dimensions for defining and measuring engineering success: outcome, output, tech health, and team health. He...2024-04-2432 min
groCTO PodcastEric Heikkila from Ford | Remote Work, Developer Well-beingIn this episode, we welcome Eric Heikkila, Technical Lead at Ford, and Founder/ex-CTO at Arbor Insight.Eric discusses his journey from founding a startup to his current role at Ford. He shares insights on his hobbies, life-defining moments, and experiences in various roles. He delves into topics like coding beginnings, transitioning from startup to corporate leadership, and managing remote teams. He also explores DORA metrics for team success, emphasizing value delivery and developer well-being.Lastly, Eric advocates for honesty, embracing failure, and learning from mistakes. He shares strategies for team engagement, like...2024-04-1723 min
groCTO PodcastJames Samuel from Reddit | Driving Success with Dev AutonomyIn this episode, we welcome James Samuel, Software Engineering Manager at Reddit, and ex-Head of Technology at TIER Mobility. He's also the author of the blog 'Effective Software Leads'.The episode begins with James' exciting journey from chemistry to coding. We also learn about his passion for tennis and insatiable curiosity that led him on a journey from Nigeria to Germany.Moving on to the main section, James sheds light on the core responsibilities of an Engineering Manager at Reddit, the day-to-day assessment of oneself and empowering your devs to become self-sufficient decision-makers.2024-04-1032 min
groCTO PodcastAndrei Gavrila from Pentalog | Tech teams: Assess, Adapt, Transform!In this episode, join Andrei Gavrila, agile coach & Fractional CTO at Pentalog.The podcast starts with a fireside chat with Andrei Gavrila, providing us with a glimpse into his personal interests. As the conversation progresses, he takes a deeper dive into the challenges faced by fractional CTOs in startups and large-scale organizations. Further, he sheds light on implementing agile at scale in large organizations as well as measuring the success of engineering teams, especially when determining team structure and topology. Lastly, he discusses the 'Maturity Model', a valuable tool for engineering leaders and C...2024-04-0326 min
groCTO PodcastSayak Saha | Can AI Tools Drive Engineering Success?In this episode, join Sayak Saha, Director of Engineering at AUTO1 Group, with a rich background in organizations such as Wipro Technologies, Amazon, and Dell.The episode kicks off with a fun fireside chat with Sayak. As the conversation progresses, he addresses the key considerations for scaling a development team. Furthermore, he explores strategies for fostering seamless collaboration among engineering, design, and product teams to enhance product development efficiency, particularly amidst challenges such as ambiguous requirements and communication barriers. Sayak also shares valuable perspectives on integrating cutting-edge AI technologies like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT into existing...2024-03-1936 min
groCTO PodcastMarian Kamenistak | Using DORA Metrics in teamsWelcome to episode #02 of The DORA Lab - An exclusive podcast by Beyond the Code, dedicated to all things DORA and beyond!In this episode, we've brought back one of our most beloved guests - Marian Kamenistak, a renowned VP Engineering Coach, and the former VPE at Mews.The discussion begins with Marian elaborating on two key terms - DevOps and DORA metrics. He then explores the application of DORA metrics within teams and their significance. He provides examples of how DORA metrics can pinpoint team issues, such as utilizing change failure rate...2024-03-0642 min
groCTO PodcastChris Bee | Bridging the Gap between Business & EngineeringIn this episode, join Chris Bee - startup tech advisor and ex-CTO at Lessen with previous engineering leadership experience at Zillow, Uber & Amazon.The episode begins with a candid fireside chat where Chris talks about moving to the West Coast, his college years, being a DJ, and how it paved the way for software development in his life.In the main section, Chris shares hands-on advice to tackle leadership challenges at various company stages, emphasizing 3 primary aspects - people, process & product. Further, he imparts tactics to translate business vision into technical strategy, discussing...2024-02-2138 min
groCTO PodcastLena Reinhard | DORA Metrics: Aligning with Business GoalWelcome to episode #01 of The DORA Lab - An exclusive podcast by Beyond the Code, dedicated to all things DORA and beyond!In our debut episode, host Kovid Batra welcomes Lena Reinhard, tech mentor and advisor with a wealth of experience from renowned organizations such as CircleCI, Travis CI, and BuzzFeed.The episode kicks off with a glimpse into Lena's life outside of work. Transitioning to the main section, they delve deeper into what drives teams to prioritize and implement DORA metrics and focus on effectively communicating engineering metrics with non-engineering teams to ensure alignment with business...2024-02-0639 min
groCTO PodcastMarc Adler | Inside the Mind of a Fractional CTOJoin Marc Adler, Fractional CTO & Chief Architect for startups at CTO-as-a-Service.In this episode, Marc shares the challenges he's faced as a Fractional CTO & specifies the differences between a Fractional & a full-time CTO role. Moreover, he defines his strategies while working with dev teams, and explains how startups can benefit from a Fractional CTO. He also emphasizes creating clear documentation & the intricacies of working with development shops to set up high-efficiency teams with positive work culture.Lastly, he discusses the role of ChatGPT & GitHub Copilot in shaping modern coding practices....2024-01-2330 min
groCTO PodcastWilliam Mendes | Leadership, Management & Engineering MetricsIn this episode, join William Mendes, SRE Manager at Feedzai and mentor at IFTL.William explores the challenges faced as an SRE manager. He discusses the balance between metrics, including DORA metrics and Cycle time, and the need for direct communication. He also emphasizes psychological safety and shares strategies to prioritize and support developer experience and well-being.Lastly, William offers valuable advice on seeking feedback from the team for personal and collective evolution.William on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-mendes/Beyond the Code is an...2024-01-1727 min
groCTO PodcastAlexandre Goedert, Thoughtworks | Building Autonomous Dev TeamsJoin Alexandre Goedert, Head of Technology at Thoughtworks.In this episode, Alex takes a deep dive into his team collaboration practices and defines what constitutes 'Good software' for engineering teams. Further, he also highlights the pivotal role of large-scale CI/CD, fostering the autonomous mindset and crucial aspect of ensuring a positive developer experience within teams. Alex concludes by offering parting advice to the audience, emphasizing the importance of connecting to business value and fostering a collaborative team environment.Alexandre on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandregoedert/Beyond the...2024-01-1032 min
groCTO PodcastStephan Schmidt, Amazing CTO | Impact vs Velocity!Join Stephan Schmidt, CTO Coach at Amazing CTO.In today's episode, Stephan discusses the various challenges faced by CTOs, the importance of creating tech strategies, aligning dev teams to focus on creating impact and bridging the gap between tech & business goals. He also sheds light on technical debt and what separates a leader from a manager.Stephan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanjschmidt/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being.2024-01-0335 min
groCTO PodcastHerijs Deksnis from Giraffe360 | To-dos to Kanbans to ScrumsJoin Herijs Deksnis, Director of Software Engineering at Giraffe360.In this episode, Harijs talks about his experience of scaling up a startup from 0 to 1, and from 1 to 10 and beyond. Further, he discusses the psychological strategies to manage 'bus factors' and handling technical debt. Lastly, he talks about the sure-shot signs of developer burnout & inefficiency in the team and the ways to balance engineering, product & business milestones.Harijs on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harijsdeksnis/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings...2023-12-2729 min
groCTO PodcastLimor Bergman | Empowering Women in TechJoin Limor Bergman, tech leadership coach & mentor at LBG Consulting Services Ltd. Limor also hosts her own podcast series - 'From a Woman to a Leader'.In this episode, Limor discusses the challenges she has faced as a woman in tech, and how she overcame them. She also emphasises the importance of having a mentor, keeping up with the latest tech, and employing metrics tools for estimation & prediction. Lastly, she shares valuable advice on effectively advancing a career in tech.Limor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/limorbergman/Beyond the Code...2023-12-2031 min
groCTO PodcastAshik Uzzaman from Twin Health | Enabling ICs to Management RolesJoin Ashik Uzzaman - Director of Engineering, Treatment Platform at Twin Health. He's also the creator of 'Leader's Whiteboard' - a blog and an educational YouTube channel for engineering leaders.Being an avid reader & a chess enthusiast, Ashik is also passionate about coaching individual developers and helping them move into management roles. He shares his knowledge of various leadership styles with us, emphasizing hands-on experience, reading & peer-to-peer feedback. Furthermore, he talks about empowering developers, setting clear objectives and leveraging metrics as an engineering leader for the overall improvement of the team.Ashik on LinkedIn...2023-12-1226 min
groCTO PodcastPeter Kristianto Widjaja | Leading Tech Teams from 0 to 1Join Peter Kristianto Widjaja, Co-founder & CTO at Hubble.BuildIn this episode, Peter talks about scaling a startup from 0 to 1. He also sheds light on the importance of purpose-driven values, being people-centric, 360 feedback and holistic methods of measuring developer well-being along with efficiency.Peter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterkwidjaja/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being.Connect with us!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/typoapp/Instagram: https://www.instag...2023-12-0531 min
groCTO PodcastJeff Watkins from xDesign | Tech & Processes in the AI EraJoin Jeff Watkins, Chief Product & Technology Officer at xDesign, who leads a team of 250+ engineers.In this episode, Jeff talks about the concept of the 'iron triangle' and the ways to balance it. He also discusses the implementation of the latest security tech and AI tech, defining success for dev teams, utilising engineering metrics to identify bottlenecks and understanding developer psychology.Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-watkins-5167111/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes...2023-11-2928 min
groCTO PodcastSerdar Mustafa | Leading Dev Teams to Market FitJoin Serdar Mustafa, the founder of Phoenix Software Consulting, who has also contributed to the product & engineering teams of companies like Twilio & Wise. He now works as a Fractional Advisor to multiple tech startups and is the author of the blog 'From Code to Boardroom' on Substack.Today's discussion revolves around leading dev teams towards a Product-Market Fit. Serdar sheds light on important topics like people leadership, tech debt, goal-setting methodologies, and measuring developer efficiency & well-being the right way.He also talks about the concept of a Minimal Lovable Product and the connection between technical debt & delivering...2023-11-2229 min
groCTO PodcastMarian Kamenistak | Boosting Efficiency with Data & EmpathyMeet Marian Kamenistak, engineering leadership mentor & coach, founder of Augment Lab & Engineering Leaders CZ. He's also the former VP of Product Engineering at Mews.The episode starts with a fun fireside chat where Marian talks about his first coding days, his favourite Netflix show & his end-of-the-day routine. In the main section, Marian sheds light on how to maintain engineering efficiency with a data-driven and empathetic mindset. He emphasizes his core principles of transparency, trust & prevention. He also elaborates on two distinctive terms - 'Roadmap contribution' and 'Epic Cycle Time’.Marian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co...2023-11-2239 min
groCTO PodcastEric Bowman from TomTom | Leading the way as a CTO!Welcoming Eric Bowman, CTO at TomTom, and an experienced advisor and investor. Eric brings forth his challenges as a CTO and the importance of being curious, disciplined & customer-centric. Furthermore, he talks about bringing dev teams together to understand & optimize the software delivery system and enhance product value.Lastly, he shares his thoughts on the Team Topologies framework, developer productivity, engineering metrics, and Agile methodologies.Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boboco/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about...2023-11-2229 min
groCTO PodcastGiorgos Ampavis from Tide | Building Tech Teams from 0 to 1Meet Giorgos Ampavis, VP of Engineering at Tide, and a notable speaker at various tech conferences, including SaaStr, CTO Craft, DevOps Enterprise Summit, and more.Giorgos talks at great length about his greatest challenge as a leader - hiring. Furthermore, he talks about the struggles he faced while switching to Flutter, the process of evaluating new tools & technologies, developer experience & engineering metrics. Lastly, he leaves us with a parting advice for young developers!Giorgos on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ampavis/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with...2023-11-2232 min
groCTO PodcastAnton Zaides from Taranis | Leading Dev Teams (Tips)Welcome Anton Zaides - development team lead at Taranis, and the author of the newsletter 'Leading Developers'.Anton talks about his personal struggles & the challenges he faced as a tech leader and his ways of coping with them. He further gives us an inside look into his methods of removing bottlenecks, handling DevOps & IT teams, delivering high-quality commits on time & transitioning from an IC to an engineering manager.Anton on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anton-zaides/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe...2023-11-2227 min
groCTO PodcastTobias Mende | DevEx for Continuous PerformanceHosting Tobias Mende, the founder of Unblocked Engineering by INOCEA Consulting Ltd., and the author of the engineering newsletter 'DevEx Nuggets'.Tobias dives deep into the importance of promoting developer experience, and the ways to address it. Furthermore, hear how Tobias devises solutions to elevate developer experience & effectively communicates their impact in terms of business value.Tobias on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobiasmende/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being....2023-11-2223 min
groCTO PodcastMiroslaw from Papaya Global | Tech Excellence & Tech DebtWe welcome Miroslaw Stanek, engineering director at Papaya Global, and the writer of the 'Practical Engineering Management' newsletter.Miroslaw talks in great length about connecting product & tech goals, and managing tech debt with ownership, collaboration & prioritization.Miroslaw on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frogermcs/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being.Connect with us!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/typoapp/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typo_app/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Typoapp_Facebook: ...2023-11-2231 min
groCTO PodcastAnemari Fiser | Navigating Tech Success: Career & Team GoalsJoin Anemari Fiser, a Tech lead trainer, who has immensely contributed to renowned companies such as CodeOp, Thoughtworks, and Waterford. The focus of the discussion is on navigating tech success with an emphasis on career goals with team relations.Anemari dives deeper into creating a growth plan setup for team members. She also underscored the significance of conducting one-on-one meetings to gain a deeper understanding of team members and to provide them with constructive feedback.Anemari on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anemari-fiser/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of...2023-11-2122 min
groCTO PodcastMihai-Valentin Curelea | Insourcing vs. Third-party SolutionsJoin Mihai-Valentin Curelea, who thrives in various roles i.e. mentor, tech lead, principal engineer, and author of the newsletter “How Did I Get Here?”. He has previously contributed to reputed organizations such as Meta, Datadog, Adobe, and more. The conversation revolves around choosing between Building your own tech vs. Leveraging third-party solutions.Mihai talks about the challenges he encountered while leading teams and provides insights into how he tackled them. He then takes a deeper dive into the scenarios where the choice between building or leveraging existing technologies becomes pivotal as well as maintaining a balance between addr...2023-11-2132 min
groCTO PodcastJordan Cutler from Qualified | Metrics & Burnout PreventionJoin Jordan Cutler - Senior frontend engineer at Qualified, ex-Twitter, Dolomite, and Gusto. We absolutely admire his commitment to keeping the flame of curiosity and learning alive.Jordan talks about achieving a balance between team dynamics and leadership roles as a senior engineer. He delves into the effective utilization of metrics and new tech tools along with addressing the critical issue of developer burnout.Jordan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordancutler1/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev...2023-11-2123 min
groCTO PodcastRichard Donovan | Developer to Tech LeaderJoin Richard Donovan director at RD Coached, who focuses on helping leaders and developers balance well-being and success. Richard talks about the wisdom of managing the ‘not knowing everything’ mindset as a leader and effectively delegating tasks. He takes a deeper plunge into developer mental and physical well-being and the challenges associated with it.Richard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-donovan-rdcoached/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being.Connect with us!2023-11-2122 min
groCTO PodcastIsabel Nyo from Atlassian | Growing Dev Teams the Sustainable Way!Join Isabel Nyo, Head of Engineering, Atlassian Australia, who focuses on growing dev teams in a sustainable way. Isabel shares specific metrics she utilizes to gauge her team’s velocity and satisfaction. Further, she delves deeper into the framework – C.A.R.E. explaining how it plays a pivotal role in instilling a product-driven mindset among engineers.Isabel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eisabai/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and well-being.Co...2023-11-2125 min
groCTO PodcastMateus Viegas | Innovation and Well-being in Dev TeamsJoin Mateus Viegas, Engineering Manager at Luxclusif, who focuses on driving innovation and well-being in dev teams.The conversation takes a deep dive into dealing with challenges when transitioning from a developer to a managerial role. Further, Mateus sheds light on the ways to get a bird's eye view of the team’s dynamics and operations. He also imparts a valuable perspective on enhancing the experience and well-being of developers.Mateus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mateus-viegas-65287223/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across th...2023-11-1919 min
groCTO PodcastAndrey Adamovich | Impact of Collaborative Dev Practices on Software DeliveryJoin Andrey Adamovich, CTO at VLAVI Group who focuses on the impact of collaborative dev practices on software delivery. He delves deep into building the right team topologies and how collaborative programming practices can increase the speed and quality of the overall development process. Andrey also emphasized the 'specific' metric that is best suited for all the development teams.Andrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreyadamovich/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and wellbeing.2023-11-1815 min
groCTO PodcastLeonardo Andreucci | Culture of High-performing Dev TeamsJoin Leonardo Andreucci, an esteemed Tech Advisor and Fractional CTO where he talks about what the culture & dynamics of high-performing dev teams look like.The discussion takes a deeper plunge into shifting to the customer approach and solving the right problem. Further, Leonardo delves into the leadership dimension, highlighting the significance of offering autonomy to team members and cultivating trust in their abilities.Leonardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leoandreucci/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes...2023-11-1819 min
groCTO PodcastLuca Rossi from Refactoring | Implementing Data-driven ApproachJoin Luca Rossi, Founder of Refactoring, to learn about Implementing a data-driven approach for building efficient dev teams.Luca delves deep into the intricacies of the data-driven approach, highlighting crucial metrics for scaling efficient development teams. Furthermore, he provides valuable insights into establishing the appropriate processes for effective code reviews.Luca on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucaronin/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and wellbeing.Connect with us!LinkedIn: https://www.linked...2023-11-1616 min
groCTO PodcastDenis Čahuk | 'Human-centered Approach' for Leading Dev TeamsJoin Denis Čahuk, Tech Leadership Coach, to learn about a unique 'human-centred approach' for leading efficient dev teams.He emphasizes that building efficient dev teams should be the topmost priority for engineering leaders, considering several factors. An essential aspect of being a leader is fostering transparency and productivity within the team.Denis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deniscahuk/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and wellbeing.Connect with us!LinkedIn: https...2023-11-1638 min
groCTO PodcastGregor Ojstersek | Right Foundation for Devs TeamsJoin Gregor Ojstersek, CTO at Zorion, to learn about setting the right foundation for engineering teams.Gregor talks about the importance of creating an effective hiring process and highlights the value of assessing soft skills in potential candidates. With remote work becoming a norm, he provides valuable insights on cultivating the right team culture to ensure successful collaboration and productivity. Gregor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorojstersek/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and...2023-11-1620 min
groCTO PodcastFrancisco Trindade from Braze | Leading Dev TeamsJoin Francisco Trindade, Director of Engineering at Braze, to learn practical strategies for leading engineering teams efficiently.Francisco talks about the importance of communication and collaboration in the success of software teams while building for this vigorous world.Francisco on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franciscomt/Beyond the Code is an exclusive series of podcasts with tech leaders across the globe, sharing learnings about dev processes, growth, culture, and wellbeing.Connect with us!LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/typoapp/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/typo_app/T...2023-11-1515 min