Beyond Coding

Gregor Hohpe, a retired technologist and author known for his work at Google and AWS, shares valuable insights on transitioning to software architecture. He reveals that architects should focus on lowering risk and making teams smarter rather than being the smartest in the room. Gregor discusses the 'Phantom Sketch Artist' technique for visualizing unclear requirements and emphasizes the importance of navigating office politics to effectively influence decision-making. He also highlights the balance between complexity and simplicity in scalable architectures.

Zanina Katira, a talent expert and seasoned recruiter, shares invaluable insights on taking charge of your engineering career. She emphasizes that while hard skills get you hired, soft skills foster real growth. Discover how to connect your work to business impact and leverage storytelling for visibility. Zanina advocates for clear career paths in tech without forcing engineers into management, and discusses the importance of adaptability in a fast-changing field. Learn the RACI method to clarify decision-making and why cultivating a network beyond your team is essential for success.

Maria Vechtomova, an MLOps expert and co-founder of Marvelous MLOps and Couchy, shares invaluable insights on the complexities of deploying AI systems. She emphasizes the critical transition from a proof of concept to production, detailing essential MLOps principles and evaluation strategies. Maria highlights the security risks associated with autonomous agents and the necessity for rigorous monitoring. Additionally, she offers practical productivity tips for leveraging AI tools effectively, helping software engineers navigate the evolving landscape of AI.

Join Anand Sahay, Global CEO of Xebia, whose background in engineering and sales bridges the gap between technical prowess and business savvy. He discusses why mediocrity often trumps excellence in career advancement, revealing how engineers can shift from coding to executive thinking. Anand emphasizes the power of simplicity over complexity, the risks of AI misinterpretation, and the importance of understanding business dynamics. He encourages engineers to engage beyond their tech skills, embrace teamwork, and remain adaptable in a rapidly changing landscape.

Marijn Markus, AI lead at Capgemini with a strong background in data science, shares fascinating insights on building lasting career skills. He emphasizes the importance of learning how to learn, warning against being too dependent on specific tools. Markus explores how innovation often emerges from 'dark' sectors and highlights the value of understanding business problems over simply writing code. Additionally, he discusses forecasting refugee movements using economic indicators and the need to filter truth in the era of deepfakes.

Praveen Murugesan, VP of Engineering at Samsara, shares his insights on evolving from simply executing code to driving business impact. He emphasizes the importance of engineers owning customer outcomes and making informed decisions. Praveen argues that product managers shouldn't handle project tracking and highlights how curiosity can boost career growth. He dispels myths about the staff engineer role, showcasing that impact, not team size, is what matters. Engaging stories and practical advice make this discussion a must-listen for aspiring product-focused engineers.

Mo Fagir, a Principal Technical Consultant at ServiceNow with a background in AI and an internship at NASA, discusses the explosive growth of Forward Deployed Engineer (FDE) roles amid declining traditional software jobs. He explains why companies struggle with AI adoption and need FDEs for systems integration. Mo outlines the essential technical skills like Python and cloud computing, while emphasizing the importance of attitude over credentials. He encourages juniors to embrace challenges and build portfolios to stand out in this evolving landscape.

Woodson Martin, CEO of OutSystems, shares insights on how software engineers can thrive in an AI-driven world. He argues that mere coding is only 20% of the job—real value comes from embracing the other 80% like problem-solving and architecture. Woodson discusses the importance of agentic workflows that automate tedious tasks while keeping humans engaged. He warns against ungoverned AI-generated code and advocates for engineers to build diverse skill sets that focus on customer impact and driving business revenue.

Michiel Overeem, Engineering Manager at AFAS, shares insights from his experience building efficient teams with just 10% of their employees as developers. He discusses the power of standardization in enhancing productivity and reveals how they hire two key types of engineers: 'craftsman' and 'product'. Michiel also explains the benefits of a four-day work week and how it fosters a culture of responsibility. Additionally, he highlights the importance of keeping engineers close to customers to drive success.

Bassem Dghaidi, a senior software engineer at GitHub with extensive experience in large-scale services, shares his insights on practical system design. He discusses the importance of simplicity over complexity, warning against premature scaling. Bassem emphasizes vertical scaling as a strategy for startups and explains how GitHub efficiently handles massive traffic with minimal architecture. He also touches on translating technical challenges into business risks and the growing influence of AI agents in coding, speeding up processes considerably.