groCTO Podcast
Calling all current and aspiring tech leaders! 🚀
Tune in every Friday for actionable insights & practical advice from global industry experts & leaders to build high-performing tech teams & elevate your leadership game 📈
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Latest episodes
May 1, 2024 • 35min
Ariel Pérez from Strip | Bridging Cross-Functional Communication Gaps
In 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 advocates for two-way communication built on trust and transparency, emphasizing the importance of free-flowing knowledge transfer among teams. Later, he discusses methods to gauge engineering success, not solely relying on DORA metrics but also addressing the age-old question, "Are we building the right things?".Lastly, Ariel delivers his parting advice for engineering leaders, urging them to recognize environment-building as their primary responsibility.Ariel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielxperez/groCTO 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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Apr 24, 2024 • 33min
Sebastian from Tonies | Insourcing & Self-Determination
In 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 passionately advocates for the self-determination theory, an outcome-oriented approach, and the value-driven delivery model as essential frameworks within Tonies.Finally, Sebastian underscores the significance of involving developers in the customer discovery phase, highlighting the pivotal role it plays in shaping product development and enhancing customer satisfaction.Sebastian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-heide-meyer-zu-erpen/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Apr 17, 2024 • 23min
Eric Heikkila from Ford | Remote Work, Developer Well-being
In 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 retrospectives and well-being check-ins, highlighting the importance of transparency and communication.Eric on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericheikkila/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Apr 10, 2024 • 32min
James Samuel from Reddit | Driving Success with Dev Autonomy
In 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.He further discusses the challenges he's faced while balancing the expectations of various stakeholders and shares the 4 critical pillars of building high-performing engineering teams.Lastly, James highlights the role of DORA metrics in measuring engineering efficiency while indirectly managing multiple teams.James on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abiodunjames/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Apr 3, 2024 • 27min
Andrei 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 CTOs aligned with an agile mindset.Andrei on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavrilaandrei/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Mar 19, 2024 • 37min
Sayak 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 legacy codebases, addressing concerns such as tool fatigue and optimizing resource allocation.Lastly, Sayak talks in great detail about ‘Build vs. Buy vs. Run’ framework and essential benchmarks for evaluating the success of an engineering team.Sayak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sayaksaha/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Mar 6, 2024 • 42min
Marian Kamenistak | Using DORA Metrics in teams
Welcome 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 to gauge team satisfaction.Lastly, Marian offers valuable insights into strategies for engineering managers to tackle inefficiencies beyond DORA metrics and navigate execution steps when tackling challenges like high cycle time or low roadmap contribution.Marian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariankamenistak/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Feb 21, 2024 • 38min
Chris Bee | Bridging the Gap between Business & Engineering
In 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 the impact of autonomy & accountability in depth. He also talks about his system of the 4Ds - discovery, design, development & distribution, to streamline the product development process. Lastly, he breaks down team goals into 2 buckets - project & business, to streamline metrics & achieve engineering success.Chris concludes by offering parting advice to the audience, reminding them not to overlook the importance of having fun at work.Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbee/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Feb 6, 2024 • 40min
Lena Reinhard | DORA Metrics: Aligning with Business Goal
Welcome 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 goals. Lena also sheds light on the implementation challenges engineering leaders face with metrics.Lastly, Lena shares parting advice for engineering communities, emphasizing the 'why' and the context behind metric usage to drive meaningful team progress.Lena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenareinhard/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
Jan 23, 2024 • 30min
Marc Adler | Inside the Mind of a Fractional CTO
Join 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.Marc on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-adler/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: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088731559819Try typo for free: https://typoapp.io/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthecodebytypo/message This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit grocto.substack.com
