In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers with Rebecca Parsons — Board Member, Author, Speaker, and Former CTO Emerita of Thoughtworks! As a long-term tech devotee, Rebecca has left her mark across academia, government research, nonprofits, startups, manufacturing, and massive enterprises. She’s a passionate advocate for programming languages, AI, and evolutionary computation — all while keeping her feet firmly planted in the ever-evolving tech community. 💡 In her own words:"I’m a geek through and through. I can’t imagine not being in the technology community. That’s just who I am." What’s inside this conversation: 👀 The myth of “magic fairy dust” technology and solutions 🔍 Balancing fairness and profit in data collection (and the risks of using proxies for race, gender, and religion) 🌍 Performative DEI, personal values, and advice to future selves 🔑 The future of the CTO role: will we see more combined CTO/product roles? 🤖 Continuous Delivery and DORA Metrics: transforming deployment practices 💡 The value of saying “I don’t know” in a constantly changing world …and so much more! 🌟

In this engaging discussion, Charity Majors, CTO and Co-founder of Honeycomb.io, shares her vast expertise in observability and large-scale systems. She delves into the critical evolution from Observability 1.0 to 2.0 and the necessity for transparency in leadership. Charity emphasizes the importance of nurturing junior engineers and the role of personal values in shaping diverse tech environments. With insights on performance metrics and the interplay between AI and software engineering, she highlights the socio-technical pathways to building high-performing teams.

Today, we're peeling back the layers with Philip Gill, CTO at SmartBox Group - the number one experience #gift provider in Europe, selling millions of gifts every year!! From #QualityAssurance to #CTO, it's a road less traveled, but it comes with incredible stories and perspectives. These stories include Phil’s experience working in various countries before joining Smartbox a decade ago. How he has surrounded himself with smart, driven, and passionate people, who always keep user experience at the heart of their work.  As a CTO, Phil advocates for #sustainable working environments and avoiding single points of failure. In this episode, we hear all of this and more… 🔑How to build trust and agility in tech teams 🤝 The importance of calling BS (B*llsh*t) on some #AIhype and finding real value 🛠️His thoughts on #BuildVSBuy 📈 The Keys to Delivering Strategic Projects: Lessons from Smartbox's #eCommerce Rebuild ⏱️ How to Improve #CycleTimes and Team Happiness 🚫 The importance of Zero Distraction 💬 How to Empower Decision-Making and Shorten Decision Chains 00:00:40 - Introduction and Typical CTO Day 00:03:37 - Balancing Planned and Operational Work 06:54 - Importance of Collaboration and Quality 10:45 - Evolution of CTO Roles and Leadership 00:14:04 - Challenges and Hype in AI Industry 17:04 - Custom Solutions and Expertise 00:20:07 - Business Continuity Challenges 23:36 - Evolution of Scalable Systems 00:27:22 - Delivering Major eCommerce Projects 00:33:41 - Advice for Digital Transformation Success Cut The Onion, hosted by @AzizaOBeirne, is a mini-series where we peel back the layers of tech roles, exploring the stories of those working in tech across various industries. Honest takes, trends, and tips for going forward! Brought to you by @SmartOSC

In this episode, we’re peeling back the layers with Florian (Flo) Pasquier, CTO at Carma. From engineer to co-founder and CTO, Flo’s career has been filled with eye-opening twists, turns, and valuable lessons! We’ll be getting a front-row seat to his brilliant mind and experiences and hearing about why building strong engineering teams with empathy and storytelling is critical for navigating the fast-changing tech landscape. You’ll hear all of this and more: 📈 Continuous Learning & Strong Foundations – Why these are essential for staying ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. 🔧 The Tech Leader Toolbox – From DevOps and CloudOps to SecOps (Security Operations), CTOs are managing an increasingly complex set of tools and responsibilities. 📣 Bridging the Gap – How CTOs and technical leaders can connect technology with decision-makers to drive meaningful impact. 📖 Storytelling & Leading by Example – Why these tools are crucial for shaping boardroom conversations and promoting tech understanding across an organization. 💰 Tech as a Revenue Enabler – The challenge of shifting the perception of tech teams from cost centers to value-driven enablers—and the cultural change needed to make that shift. About Carma: Carma is a fully digital car dealership, offering a wide range of quality pre-owned vehicles at fixed prices, delivered right to the home with a 7-day returns policy with no questions asked! Visit their website here About Cut The Onion: Cut The Onion is a mini-series where we peel back the layers of what it truly means to be a Chief Technology Officer. We’re diving deep into tech roles that are often misunderstood, exploring the stories of leaders across various industries, and bringing you the honest takes, trends, and tips you need to move forward. It is all brought to you by SmartOSC - With 18 years in operation, SmartOSC is an award-winning digital commerce agency of 1,000+ experts, across seven countries including Vietnam, Australia, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, the US, and the UK. Check out our website: https://www.smartosc.com/

“We cannot solve a misuse of trust in people with blockchain technology. But I think what we can solve is the trust in systems challenge.” Today, we're peeling back the layers with Sebastian Bode, The VP of Engineering at the Cardano Foundation. Sebastian turned his childhood dream job at Ubisoft into a career that’s spanned robotics, automotive, finance, and now blockchain! After years as an engineer, Sebastian made the leap to leadership and realized what really excites him isn’t just solving technical problems—it’s working with people and creating environments and systems that thrive on truth, education, resilience, and adoption. We spoke to Sebastian to hear about his experience, getting to the core of his motivations and the future of the Cardano Foundation. Here’s what you can expect to hear: 💡 Blockchain Education, Literacy, and Regulation ⚙️ Chang hard fork and decentralized governance 🚀 Innovations and trends that he is keeping a close eye on 🔎 Leadership advice - The importance of curiosity and stepping out of the blockchain bubble ...and much more! Also, this week, over 10,000 attendees from over 25 countries will gather in Dubai for the Cardano Summit 2024. The Cardano Foundation will be joined by speakers such as Binance CEO Richard Teng and Animoca Labs Co-Founder and Chairman Yat Siu at the global blockchain event. The Cardano Summit brings together industry leaders, blockchain enthusiasts, regulators, policymakers, engineers, and developers. You can still get tickets by clicking the link below, listeners of Cut The Onion also get a lovely 10% discount on tickets by using the code: CDS24MEDIA10 https://summit.cardano.org/ What is Cut The Onion, we hear you ask? It’s a mini-series where we peel back the layers of tech roles. We’ll be getting to the core of tech roles that can oftentimes be misunderstood and exploring the stories of those working in tech across a multitude of industries - bringing you honest takes, trends, and tips for going forward.

Join Joel Beasley, creator of ModernCTO.io and host of the Modern CTO podcast, who has interviewed nearly 1,000 CTOs. He shares his biggest frustrations and joys in the tech world, emphasizing the importance of focusing on 'the next right thing.' Discover why understanding your role as a CTO is essential and how systems dictate success. Joel dives into the impact of AI and the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and resilience within tech leadership—all from a refreshingly candid perspective.

Cut The Onion is a playful acronym for CTO (Chief Technology Officer), reflecting the multifaceted nature of the role. Like an onion, the CTO role has layers that, when peeled back, reveal even more beneath the surface.  We’ll be getting to the core of tech role that can oftentimes be misunderstood and exploring the stories of those working in tech across a multitude of industries - bringing you honest takes, trends, and tips for going forward. 

If you could speak to your future self, what advice would you offer? That’s the question we've been asking our guests this season. To celebrate #InternationalPodcastDay, we’re wrapping up this season with a special compilation of sage advice from our brilliant lineup! From savoring the wins, and trusting your gut, to promoting people sooner, this season has been filled with invaluable wisdom to help you move forward. We’ll also have a very exciting announcement to make so make sure to stay to the end to hear about it!  In this episode, you’ll hear from: Simon Torring the CEO and Co-founder of Cube Asia  Andre Menezes Co-founder of TiNDLE Natalie Dau Author of Run Like a Woman Terry O’Connor Strategic Advisor to Bain & Company, Trustana, SmartOSC and more Jeffrey Tan President of the Singapore Computer Society Catherine D Henry Author of Virtual Natives Dennis Trawnitchek CTO of SCBX Andy Chang Global Head of Marketing Tech at Electrolux Emily Hinks, Co-Founder and CEO of Mischief Makers  Mint Kaewmanorom Head of Analytics & AI Business Development at True Digital

Are traditional office cultures meeting their end? What happens when you start investing in the ROI of Human Connection? (Spoiler alert: great things will happen!) In this episode of #TheForwardPodcast, we're joined by Emily Hinks, founder and CEO of Mischief Makers. She’s shaking up the Future of Work with her delightfully unconventional, human-centered approach to team collaboration and growth, using facilitation as fuel for good! Emily shares her mischievous methods that have attracted brands like Netflix, Spotify, Nike, and Greenpeace into her orbit. Whether you’re a team member, manager, founder, or CEO—hybrid or fully remote—you can expect relatable, practical tips and real-world examples that highlight the rewards of investing in Human Connection for a brighter future at work. If you’d like to skip along to key moments that work best for you - here you go:  03:32 Why Emily started Mischief Makers 08:07 The Importance of fun and mischief in the workplace 12:18 Effective meeting communication 17:07 Can AI help us spend more time on creativity?21:36 Case studies for facilitation 26:12 Building workplace connections 31:17 Organizational statements implemented 36:53 Budgeting for fun activities 42:49 Addressing hybrid session challenges 48:34 Move Forward and Leave Behind 54:24 Future self advice Check out Emily’s Check-in Generator for a fun way to energize your meetings or explore Mischief Makers’ Hybrid Facilitation Training to lead groups more effectively in today’s evolving work environment. You can find out more at Mischiefmakers.co and EmilyHinks.com! About The Forward Podcast: In a world where technology intertwines with every aspect of our lives, how do industry experts and leaders plan to navigate forward? Explore bold moves and strategies for success amid constant disruption. Learn the ideas, behaviours, tools, and trends they'll leave behind, and those they'll carry forward to shape the future of work, life, and leadership. Each episode is hosted and edited by Aziza O'Beirne.

“We have to leave behind the fear of what might go wrong and replace that with the opportunity of what happens if it goes right.”  We’re so happy to have Terry O’Connor OBE on this episode of #TheForwardPodcast! With over 20 years of experience transforming global businesses and a track record that includes CEO roles at Courts Asia and Matahari.  Today, Terry brings his strategic vision and fresh perspectives to companies like Bain and Company, Mirakle, and Trustana. He’s also the author of Why Not? The Story of a Retail Maverick and Courts, and has received numerous accolades, including an OBE from Her Majesty The Queen and an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling. In this episode, Terry shares his unique insights on: Transforming Global Businesses The Importance of Feedback and Learning from Mistakes  The Future of Retail in Southeast Asia: Decision-Making and Digital Strategies  Tech Vendor Partnerships: Moving Beyond the Pitch  Breaking Down Internal Silos  Opportunities and Threats of AI  What Brands Should Embrace Moving Forward  What CEOs Should Leave Behind  And much more!  Episode Breakdown: 01:00 OBE: Honors  02:45 Future of Leadership, Retail 04:01 Balancing Life's Aspects 06:12 Career: Start to Finish 08:52 Action Overcomes Fear 10:37 Strategy: Curiosity, Collaboration 13:11 Decision-Making: Doors Analogy 15:38 eCommerce and Retail Challenges 17:06 Adapting Communication 21:11 Building Trust: New Offerings 26:57 AI: Power and Threats 30:46 What is Technology for? Improving Lives?  31:00 AI Chatbots: Helpful or a Hindrance? 32:15 Change Management with Technology & Enhancing Data Literacy 32:48 What Does Good Execution Mean? 33:18 Vendor Reliance Issues 34:48 Agile Tech Partnerships 37:08 Marketing in Tech Decisions 38:45 Team Involvement in Projects 40:16 Future of Retail 43:19 Sustainability Focus 45:10 What Makes A Good Leader?