CTO Confessions Brought to you by IT Labs

IT Labs
CTO Confessions Brought to you by IT Labs

Hi my name is TC, and I’m honored to be hosting the CTO Confessions podcast brought to you by IT Labs. In our podcast we tackle the subject of leadership, how to deal with hard issues facing your business and we try to get closer to the world of those fantastic women and men that hold it all together with different priorities that rarely get appreciated. Join us in our biweekly podcast and have fun as we tackle the world of business and the CTO Life. Brought to you by IT Labs. Listen to all our podcats on: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/mk/podcast/cto-confession-brought-to-you-by-it-labs/id1507959613 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LKhgOJSkRbbCn9agFCajC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cto-confessions

  1. Episode 161: A Fintech CTO's Playbook for Driving Sustainable Innovation with Skyler Nesheim

    28 NOV

    Episode 161: A Fintech CTO's Playbook for Driving Sustainable Innovation with Skyler Nesheim

    In this episode, TC, our CTO Confessions host, and Skyler Nesheim, the CTO of Dwolla, discuss the strategies and mindsets that have propelled his career in the competitive and dynamic world of FinTech. A hidden world that we all use without knowing it. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Develop a framework to prioritize core, unique technology that drives your business while leveraging SaaS solutions for non-core needs to enable responsible, sustainable growth. Utilize thoughtful questioning, such as "What problem are we solving?" and "What are we optimizing for?" to align teams, challenge assumptions, and drive better decision-making. Emphasize the value of documenting decisions, potential second-order effects, and leveraging mental models to improve collaboration, knowledge sharing, and future problem-solving abilities. Our Guest: Skyler Nesheim LinkedIn: Skyler Nesheim | LinkedIn Website: https://www.dwolla.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    57 min
  2. Episode 160: Confessions of a Tech Maverick with Jeremy Hodges

    15 NOV

    Episode 160: Confessions of a Tech Maverick with Jeremy Hodges

    In this episode, we sit down with Jeremy Hodges, the CTO of Live Oak Bank, a digital-only small business bank. Jeremy shares his passion for customer-centric technology, his approach to balancing innovation and compliance, and the importance of addressing organizational weaknesses. Hear how Jeremy cascades his audacious vision throughout the company and empowers his teams to drive real impact. This is a must-listen for any tech leader looking to elevate their leadership game. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Jeremy’s unwavering focus on delivering technology that truly serves the customer’s needs is a masterclass in putting the user first. His team’s deep dive into the voice of customer research – a model all tech leaders should emulate. Navigating the complex regulatory landscape of banking is no easy feat, but Jeremy has found a way to enable his teams to innovate within the guardrails, keeping roadblocks at bay. Jeremy’s willingness to confront the “shadows” in his organization, both at the individual and team level, demonstrates a level of self-awareness and courage that all leaders should aspire to. Our Guest: Jeremy Hodges LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrmyhdgs/ Website: http://www.jeremyhodges.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    46 min
  3. Episode 159: Cracking the Code of Tech Leadership with Farzona Pulatova

    22 OCT

    Episode 159: Cracking the Code of Tech Leadership with Farzona Pulatova

    In this CTO confession session, we get insights from a VP of Engineering on Building High-Performing Teams. Join us as we dive into the mind of Farzona Pulatova, a seasoned tech leader who has navigated the industry’s complexities with grace and innovation. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Farzona emphasizes the importance of creating a transparent, empathetic work environment where teams are empowered to focus on what matters most, fostering high performance and innovation. - Farzona's insights on ruthless prioritization and embracing change equip leaders with strategies to navigate uncertainty, modernize systems, and position their organizations for sustainable growth. - Farzona's passion for mentoring women in tech and addressing systemic inequities inspires us to act and create a more inclusive, equitable future for underrepresented groups in the industry. Our Guest: Farzona Pulatova LinkedIn: Farzona Pulatova Website: https://www.earnest.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    46 min
  4. Episode 158: Confessions of a Tech Turnaround Titan with Misha Makara

    17 OCT

    Episode 158: Confessions of a Tech Turnaround Titan with Misha Makara

    In this session of CTO Confessions, we get an unvarnished look into the trials, tribulations, and hard-won wisdom of a tech leader who’s stepped into the arena of huge challenges and turned things around. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Misha's key message is that mistakes and failures are inevitable, but they are also your greatest growth opportunities. Lean into the lessons your missteps can teach you. - Misha emphasizes the critical importance of deeply understanding your customer's needs and designing intentional experiences rather than getting caught up in the latest shiny new technology. - Misha advocates for creating a work environment that encourages small, low-risk experiments to test hypotheses and iterate rapidly towards product-market fit. Failure is fuel for progress. Our Guest: Misha Makara LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishamakara/ Website: https://www.mishamakara.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    54 min
  5. Episode 157: Mastering the Art of Empowering High-Performing Teams with Catherine Miller

    2 OCT

    Episode 157: Mastering the Art of Empowering High-Performing Teams with Catherine Miller

    In this episode, our host, TC Gill sits down with Catherine Miller, the Chief Technology Officer of Flatiron Health. Catherine shares her passion for using data and technology to improve cancer treatment and drug development - a truly purposeful mission. We dive into Catherine's journey to the CTO role, the challenges of leading through different growth phases, and her authentic, empowering approach to leadership. If you're an aspiring tech leader, get ready for insights that will inspire you to make a real difference. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Passion for using technology can be a huge driver in improving lives, especially when it comes to innovation in healthcare. Exploring different ways to navigate the evolving challenges of leading through startup growth and into a mature enterprise, with a critical focus on technical debt management. The gifts that a transparent leadership style gives to your team members. How it becomes a model for others to emulate, invites autonomy while also providing clear direction and constraints. Our Guest: Catherine Miller LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-miller-0177142/ Website: https://flatiron.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    45 min
  6. Episode 156: A Conversation on Metadata, Meaningful Work, and Embracing Change with Madalina Tanasie

    20 AUG

    Episode 156: A Conversation on Metadata, Meaningful Work, and Embracing Change with Madalina Tanasie

    Madalina Tanasie, CTO of Collibra, shares her insights on AI governance, data intelligence, and SaaS evolution. She highlights how advancements in AI have democratized technology and emphasizes the need for solid data governance. Tanasie also stresses the importance of meaningful work for engineers to drive innovation. Her perspectives offer valuable guidance in navigating the tech industry's rapid changes. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Embrace change and new technologies. Stay ahead by welcoming advancements, especially AI. Instead of fearing it, integrate AI into your operations enthusiastically and make it a core part of your strategy. Connect work to meaningful outcomes. Ignite passion in your leadership and team. Ensure that engineering work is tied to meaningful customer results, keeping your engineers motivated and engaged. Accept failure as part of the process. Focus on moving forward and view failure as a learning opportunity. Embrace setbacks as part of the journey to continuous improvement and problem-solving. Our Guest: Madalina Tanasie LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madalina-tanasie/ Website: https://www.collibra.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    49 min
  7. Episode 155: Navigating the Responsible Development of LLMs with Vijay Karunamurthy

    28 MAR

    Episode 155: Navigating the Responsible Development of LLMs with Vijay Karunamurthy

    Vijay Karunamurthy, Field CTO at Scale AI, joins CTO Confessions to discuss his career in AI and the future of generative models. Vijay shares lessons from early neural network research and his time at YouTube, where he helped build recommendation systems. He explains his role translating customer needs to product roadmaps and ensuring ethical, transparent AI development. The conversation explores AI's potential to enhance understanding of complex issues through multimodal interfaces. Vijay offers advice on entrepreneurship and gaining new perspectives through direct conversations. Key takeaways from the podcast are: Fine-tuning AI models for real-time use cases like robots and self-driving cars will democratize access to AI. Leveraging direct conversations with customers, researchers, and experts will help you gain new perspectives and challenge assumptions. Testing is paramount as it will determine how safe, usable, and effective AI will be in the future. Our Guest: Vijay Karunamurthy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vjkaruna/ Website: https://scale.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    57 min
  8. Episode 154: Architecting Success: Andreas Westendorpf's Vision of Tech as Business Backbone

    26 FEB

    Episode 154: Architecting Success: Andreas Westendorpf's Vision of Tech as Business Backbone

    In this insightful episode of CTO Confessions, listeners are treated to an in-depth exploration of technology and leadership through the experiences of Andreas Westendörpf, CTO of Emma. His journey, from a budding software engineer to an influential technology leader, is a central theme. The episode covers the crucial role of good architecture, with a focus on the MACH Alliance's contributions to e-commerce. It delves into the significant impact of organizational structure on technology, advocating for empowered, interdisciplinary product teams. Additionally, the episode sheds light on topics like technical debt and the essence of software development, all while underscoring the necessity of empathy in the tech industry. Key takeaways from the podcast are: - Empathy is Key in Bridging Technology and Business - Mutual understanding between technical and non-technical teams is crucial for effective collaboration and problem-solving. - Organizational Dynamics Shape Software Development - The structure of an organization significantly influences its software architecture. Implementing effective team structures and interdisciplinary approaches can lead to more innovative and efficient product development. - Continuous Learning and Community Engagement are Essential - Engaging with peer networks, podcasts, and tech blogs is vital for staying updated and tackling the complexities of technology leadership. Our Guest: Andreas Westendörpf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/westendoerpf/ Website: https://team.emma-sleep.com/ Intro and background music: Craig MacArthur - Power Shutoff (www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74iB_jtauw)

    37 min
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About

Hi my name is TC, and I’m honored to be hosting the CTO Confessions podcast brought to you by IT Labs. In our podcast we tackle the subject of leadership, how to deal with hard issues facing your business and we try to get closer to the world of those fantastic women and men that hold it all together with different priorities that rarely get appreciated. Join us in our biweekly podcast and have fun as we tackle the world of business and the CTO Life. Brought to you by IT Labs. Listen to all our podcats on: iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/mk/podcast/cto-confession-brought-to-you-by-it-labs/id1507959613 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LKhgOJSkRbbCn9agFCajC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/cto-confessions

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