Software Engineering Tales

Pavel Polcr

The tales of software engineering people - about their journey and about the state of the industry today. We go deeper and pursue all the bits that tell the whole story.  Everyone's journey is different - let's learn together with my guests, leaning into their experience and wisdom. 

  1. 04/10/2025

    Why Empathy is a Superpower for High-Performing Teams | Scott Varho Interview

    You can reach Scott Varho on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvarho/ In this conversation with tech leadership expert Scott Varho, we explore why empathy is the ultimate superpower for creating high-performing software engineering teams. Scott shares practical wisdom from his vast experience, covering topics such as: Building and maintaining highly effective teamsCommon anti-patterns that hinder team performanceHow to conduct meaningful retrospectives that actually improve teamsManaging stakeholder expectations and improving team collaborationBalancing business clarity with technical realitiesStrategic planning: finding the right balanceNavigating common pitfalls in engineering leadershipThe real impact of AI on the future of software engineering jobsTune in to understand how empathy and strategic clarity can drastically improve your team's effectiveness and job satisfaction. 🔔 Subscribe for more software engineering insights and interviews! 🚀 00:00 Introduction to Scott and His Journey03:25 Building High-Performing Software Teams18:25 The Importance of Retrospectives23:16 Challenges and Human Psychology in Tech25:14 Understanding Stakeholder Needs26:47 Challenges in Technology Implementation27:46 The Cost of Maintenance31:12 Leadership Fears and Motivations35:16 Strategic Operating Systems41:14 The Role of AI in Technology50:09 Empathy as a Superpower

    51 min

  2. 03/26/2025

    Why Quality Must Start on Day One with Maryia Tuleika

    What does it really mean to build high-quality software, and why do so many teams get it wrong? In this episode, Maryia Tuleika, an experienced quality engineering consultant, shares raw, real-world stories from her work across startups and large-scale enterprises. From near-disasters with overheated batteries to the invisible costs of skipping QA early on, Maryia reveals the patterns she’s seen and the mindset shift every dev team needs. Connect with Maryia on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryia-tuleika/ 🎧 Subscribe for more unfiltered software engineering stories and insights. 00:00 Introduction00:44 Guest Introduction: Meet Maryia04:22 Importance of Quality from the Start07:28 Challenges in Quality Assurance14:08 AI in Software Development17:23 Maria's Career Journey19:40 Public Speaking and Networking22:22 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

    30 min
  3. The Role of Tech Lead with Anemari Fiser

    02/27/2025

    The Role of Tech Lead with Anemari Fiser

    Today I talk with Anemari Fiser about all sorts of topics connected to the role of tech lead. How did she become a tech lead, what is the difference between that role and team lead, and how to prepare for the tech lead role. Anemari shares her journey, her experiences with pair programming and TDD, and the challenges tech leads face, like time management. She also explains her work helping senior engineers and tech leads through her activities - like the upcoming book! (link below) And as usual - there is also a juicy “Tell me about the time you messed up”… Connect with Anemari: LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anemari-fiser/ O’Reilly book - Leveling Up as a Tech Lead (Early release version): https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/leveling-up-as/9781098177508 O’Reilly online course - Soft Skills for Tech Leads: https://learning.oreilly.com/course/soft-skills-for/0642572043995/ Level up as a Tech Lead Newsletter: https://anemarifiser.substack.com Coaching 1-1: https://anemarifiser.substack.com/p/1-1-coaching 00:00 Introduction and Early Career Aspirations00:49 Guest Introduction and Initial Conversation01:30 Daily Life of a Tech Lead03:16 Tech Lead vs Team Lead07:33 Becoming a Tech Lead12:53 Current Role and Projects15:34 Challenges and Advice for Tech Leads16:58 Pair Programming Insights26:26 Balancing Learning and Work30:47 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

    36 min
  4. Understanding Quality in Software Engineering with Katka Pilátová

    02/20/2025

    Understanding Quality in Software Engineering with Katka Pilátová

    Today, I invited Katka Pilátová, a senior software engineer in test, to talk about what makes high-quality software. We discuss the role of QA, the importance of integrating quality in development, the challenges in communication between developers and QA teams, and the impact of company structure on quality practices. Katka also shares her insights on the use of AI in testing, her journey into QA, and good practices for maintaining quality in software products. Connect with Katka through her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katka-pilatova-b2920a84/ Explore her blog articles around QA topics here: https://medium.com/@tlacenka 00:00 Introduction00:56 Understanding QA Beyond Bug Discovery03:08 The Role of a QA Architect04:47 Challenges in QA and Development Communication06:09 QA in Startups vs. Corporates07:07 Journey into QA and Software Engineering11:28 The Importance of Manual Testing15:57 AI in QA: Current Use and Future Potential20:51 Defining Quality in Software29:44 Improving Developer and QA Collaboration40:11 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

    43 min
  5. From Teacher To Software Engineer - Breaking things down and using people skills with Callie Buruchara

    02/12/2025

    From Teacher To Software Engineer - Breaking things down and using people skills with Callie Buruchara

    Today, I invited Callie Buruchara, a senior software engineer, to talk about her journey into tech and how her previous experiences influence her career. We discuss her transition from teaching and international service projects to software engineering, the challenges she faced, and the importance of clear communication and people skills in tech. Callie also shares practical advice for junior developers, her experiences with imposter syndrome, and the value of a blameless culture in high-performing teams. Connect with Callie on her LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-buruchara/ Callie’s podcast Majority of Work (A ton of knowledge related to people skills in software engineering):https://majorityofwork.buzzsprout.com/ 00:00 Introduction00:34 Current Role and Work Experience02:08 Comparing Agency and Product Work04:30 Learning and Adapting to New Projects07:56 Effective Communication in Teams11:07 Journey into Software Engineering15:23 Skills from Past Careers18:08 Challenges as a Junior Developer21:17 Creating Content and Helping Others25:42 Memorable Mistakes and Lessons Learned29:29 Final Thoughts and Takeaway Message

    30 min
  6. Freelancing in Tech - Insights from Judith Böhlert

    02/03/2025

    Freelancing in Tech - Insights from Judith Böhlert

    In this episode, I chat with Judith Böhlert, a freelance software engineer, about her journey into tech, transitioning from mathematics to programming, and her experiences working as a freelancer. We explore the dynamics between freelancers and clients, the pros and cons of frequent project changes, and how she secures clients through networking. Judith also shares her insights on getting into a new code base quickly, the use of AI tools like Copilot, and much more. You can connect with Judith here on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jboehlert/ 00:00 Introduction 00:55 Journey into Software Engineering 02:07 Early Career Experiences 05:26 Freelancing: The Decision and Experience 08:24 Finding Clients and Building a Network 11:51 Navigating Client Relationships and Communication 18:56 The Role of AI in Software Development 26:50 Blameless Culture and Learning from Mistakes 29:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaway Message

    31 min
  7. From Retail to Product Management - Santiana Brace and her Unconventional Journey into TECH

    01/14/2025

    From Retail to Product Management - Santiana Brace and her Unconventional Journey into TECH

    Today, I invited Santiana Brace, an experienced product manager, to talk about her unconventional journey into tech. Santiana shares insights on transitioning from retail to product management, the value of learning from mistakes, and how she balances a demanding job with family duties. We also discuss collaboration and communication in the dev team. Join us for an inspiring story and practical tips! You can connect with Santiana here on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santiana-brace/ 00:00 Introduction 02:00 A Day in the Life of a Product Manager 04:00 Challenges in Product Management 05:23 Effective Collaboration and Communication 09:14 Career Switch into Product Management 24:39 Balancing Work and Family Life 30:13 Lessons Learned from Mistakes 33:05 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

    36 min

  8. 01/07/2025

    Code, Create, Connect: John Cricket's Story

    In today's episode, I talk with John Cricket, a seasoned software engineering manager and successful content creator. We talk about John's career journey, which was not straightforward, his ventures in building an audience through LinkedIn and starting his business after he got laid off John also shares valuable insights on the importance of soft skills, leadership styles, and the future of his Coding Challenges project, which helps software engineers learn new languages and enhance their skills through real-world applications. You can connect with John here: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ X: https://x.com/johncrickett BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social And here are the Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.fyi/ 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Meet John Cricket 02:30 John's Career Journey 05:16 Starting Coding Challenges 10:33 Building a Personal Brand 19:01 The Role of a Software Engineering Manager 23:53 Remote Work vs. Office Work 31:28 The Importance of Soft Skills 33:37 Conclusion and Key Takeaways

    35 min
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The tales of software engineering people - about their journey and about the state of the industry today. We go deeper and pursue all the bits that tell the whole story.  Everyone's journey is different - let's learn together with my guests, leaning into their experience and wisdom. 

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