LEAD Podcast Geert van der Cruijsen & Rene van Osnabrugge

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge record live from Techorama, where they are joined by guest Laïla Bougriâ from Particular Software. The discussion centers around the challenges of critical thinking in software development, especially in decision-making processes. Laïla shares insights on avoiding unconscious biases, the importance of a structured approach to decision-making, and the value of documenting problems and solutions thoroughly. She introduces the concept of Request for Comments (RFC) for major decisions and Architecture Decision Records (ADR) for smaller ones, emphasizing the need for collaboration and feedback to ensure well-considered outcomes. The episode concludes with practical advice for implementing these processes in any organization.



**Resources:**

- [Laïla Bougriâ on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lailabougria/)

- [Sample README for Critical Thinking Talk](https://github.com/lailabougria/talks/blob/main/mirror-on-the-wall-am-i-a-critical-thinker/sample/README.md)

- [Critical Thinking Talk on GitHub](https://github.com/lailabougria/talks/tree/main/mirror-on-the-wall-am-i-a-critical-thinker)

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and Rene are live at Techorama Belgium, discussing the importance of soft skills in technical environments. They welcome guest Arthur Doler, a software engineer and community steward at Aviture, who shares insights from his 20-year career. Arthur emphasizes the necessity of understanding human dynamics in building high-performing teams, highlighting that technical skills alone are insufficient.



Arthur delves into the concept of psychological safety, explaining its critical role in fostering open communication and managing conflict within teams. He shares compelling stories and research to illustrate how creating a safe space for admitting mistakes can significantly improve team performance.



Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the softer side of developer skills and how they contribute to building resilient and effective teams.



https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthurdoler
https://fearlessorganizationscan.com/

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and René broadcast live from Techorama Belgium amidst the buzz of the conference. They delve into the complexities of distributed systems with Adam Ralph from Particular Software, who shares insights from his eight years of experience with NServiceBus. The trio discuss the common pitfalls of designing your own systems, especially when off-the-shelf solutions like messaging frameworks can streamline development and reduce costs. The conversation also explores practical strategies for transitioning legacy systems to the cloud without succumbing to the risks of a full rewrite. We would like to thank Techorama for their hospitality. Be aware that the recording was live @ Techorama, therefore the sound quality might be a bit compromised.Links:Particular Software  Adam RalphTechorama Belgium

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge delve into the escalating costs of cloud services and the emerging discipline of Financial Operations, or FinOps. They discuss why some companies are shifting from cloud back to on-premises data centers due to cost concerns and how FinOps aims to manage and control these expenses effectively. They explore how FinOps fosters collaboration among engineering, finance, and business teams to make informed, data-driven spending decisions, maximizing business value from cloud investments. And they touch upon the cultural shifts necessary for implementing FinOps, including educating teams on cost management and the importance of architecture choices in controlling expenses. 

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, Geert and René explore the impact of generative AI on the tech industry with special guest April Edwards from GitHub. They discuss the evolving role of developers, architects, and technical professionals in an AI-assisted future. April shares insights on how AI is enhancing productivity and creativity in software development, the importance of human oversight in AI-generated code, and the potential for AI to assist with tasks beyond coding. The conversation also touches on the cultural and process changes needed for effective AI adoption within organizations.

In this episode of the LEAD Podcast, hosts Geert van der Cruijsen and Rene van Osnabrugge talk about the often overlooked challenge of cultural resistance in the face of technical changes within organizations. They dive into the concept of a DevOps and growth mindset and the role this plays in enabling teams to break out of silos and work together effectively.



From their own experience they talk about common behavior they see, fears that lie underneath and some guidance on how to deal with change projects.



Anyone that is interested in change process or creating a more innovative, and collaborative culture in their organization this is an episode to listen!