Builders by Proxify

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Oliver Spragg, former CTO of Plan A, about his journey in technology leadership and the importance of sustainability in tech. They discuss the challenges of building data-driven solutions for climate action, the definition of high-performing teams, and the role of diversity in enhancing team performance. Oliver shares insights on effective estimation processes in remote teams and the impact of AI on productivity tracking. The conversation concludes with Oliver’s aspirations for the future and the evolving trends in technology and sustainability.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Tech Leadership and Sustainability
(02:46) Oliver’s Journey in Technology and Sustainability
(06:01) Building Tech for Climate Action
(08:32) Data Infrastructure Challenges in Sustainability
(11:46) Advice for Purpose-Driven Tech Companies
(14:37) Defining High-Performing Teams
(17:55) Balancing Individual and Team Metrics
(20:47) Lessons Learned in Performance Frameworks
(25:15) Measuring Deployment Metrics and Goals
(27:02) AI’s Impact on Performance Measurement
(29:27) Utilizing AI for Developer Experience Insights
(31:55) The Role of AI in Code Quality and Team Dynamics
(35:51) Diversity’s Influence on Team Performance
(36:44) Effective Estimation Techniques in Agile Teams
(40:43) Remote Work Dynamics and Team Collaboration
(42:50) Future Aspirations and Climate Impact
(46:57) Emerging Technology Trends and AI’s Future

In this conversation, Cecilia Borg, Interim VP of Tech Ops at Viaplay, joins Lee Haynes to discuss the essential qualities she looks for when hiring developers, emphasizing the importance of being a team player, transparent communication, and engagement in a remote work environment. She highlights the need for developers to actively participate in team dynamics and to express their feelings and contributions openly.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Cecilia Borg and Her Journey

(03:03) The Role of an Interim Tech Leader

(05:59) Balancing Stability and Change in Organizations

(08:56) The Growing Demand for Interim Executives

(11:58) Wearing Multiple Hats: Adapting to Different Roles

(14:59) Leadership Values and Approaches

(18:03) Evaluating Organizational Health

(21:05) Prioritizing Change in High-Stakes Environments

(24:02) Dealing with Resistance to Change

(26:10) Challenges in Hiring Engineers for Hybrid Teams

(29:32) The Importance of Behavioral Traits in Developers

(31:56) Building Connected Hybrid Teams

(36:15) Core Responsibilities of Modern Engineering Managers

(40:23) Supporting Engineering Managers Effectively

(41:56) Transitioning from Developer to Manager

(45:56) Common Mistakes in Engineering Leadership

(48:13) The Future of AI in Team Leadership

(50:43) Simplifying Communication Between Engineers and Management

What does it take to lead cloud transformation at one of the world’s biggest appliance companies?

In this episode, Kaveh Djavaherian, Director of Global Cloud Office at Electrolux, joins host Lee Haynes to unpack his journey from hands-on engineer to strategic tech leader.They cover how Electrolux is modernizing global operations through cloud technology, what true digital leadership looks like, and why curiosity might be the most underrated skill in tech.

(00:00) Intro: Meet Kaveh Djavaherian, Director of Global Cloud Office at Electrolux

(01:00) From Iran to Sweden: How curiosity led him into tech

(02:30) What a “Global Cloud Office” actually does

(06:20) Cloud as a business enabler, not just infrastructure

(09:00) Modernizing Electrolux through cloud and automation

(11:40) Designing for scale and security in a global enterprise

(15:00) From infrastructure to code: the evolution of IT roles

(17:30) Balancing tech expertise with leadership and communication

(20:00) Stakeholder management in a complex global organization

(22:30) The challenge of hiring and developing global cloud talent

(26:30) What Kaveh looks for in candidates: curiosity and spark

(30:00) How to grow leadership potential early in your career

(33:00) Moving from technical to leadership roles without losing the tech edge

(36:00) Cloud’s role in Electrolux’s sustainability goals

(40:00) Future trends: AI, automation, and agent-based work

(44:00) Developer experience and creating a culture of learning

(45:30) The one thing he’d fix in enterprise cloud strategy

(47:30) The “ninja belts” idea and spreading cloud knowledge across teams

(48:30) Final thoughts: Leading through curiosity and having fun

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes sits down with Gilles Backhus, Co-founder and VP of Product at Tensordyne, to discuss the future of AI hardware, energy-efficient computation, and what it takes to scale a global deep-tech startup.

Gilles shares how Tensordyne is rethinking chip design through logarithmic math to cut power consumption, why the next wave of AI innovation won’t come from bigger models but smarter architectures, and how culture and hiring shape deep-tech success.

If you’re interested in AI chips, autonomous systems, data center innovation, or building teams that last, this conversation goes deep into what’s coming next for AI hardware, inference efficiency, and sustainable compute.

(00:00) Intro: Meet Gilles Backhus, Co-founder of Tensordyne

(01:00) From electrical engineering to AI hardware innovation

(02:00) The idea behind Tensordyne and its mission

(03:45) How Tensordyne logarithmic math cuts power use

(06:00) The real story behind AI’s carbon footprint

(08:30) Power, scale, and sustainability in AI computing

(09:40) Building Tensordyne across the US and Germany

(10:45) Inside Tensordyne engineering culture and low attrition

(13:30) Partnering with Juniper Networks and networking breakthroughs

(14:50) What Tensordyne looks for when hiring engineers

(19:00) Balancing global teams and cultural differences

(22:30) From VP of AI to VP of Product: Gilles’ leadership shift

(27:00) Staying ahead in a fast-moving AI hardware market

(30:00) From autonomous driving to data centers: Tensordyne's focus today

(32:00) The next 5–10 years in AI innovation

(36:50) The evolution of AI chip specialization

(45:00) The rise of edge computing and analog AI

(47:00) Startup lessons and emotional resilience

(52:00) Closing thoughts and key takeaways

In this episode, Marija Nakevska, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Worldline, shares her journey from engineering to executive leadership.

She discusses the importance of a holistic product profile, the challenges of building scalable products for global markets, and the significance of leadership during rapid growth.(00:00) Marija Nakevska’s Journey: From Engineer to Executive(02:54) The Importance of a Holistic Product Profile(05:58) Building Scalable Products for Global Markets(09:03) Leadership in Rapid Growth Environments(11:56) Recruiting for High-Performing Product Teams(15:00) Design Thinking in Diverse Market Segments(17:59) The Complexities of the Payments Industry(21:03) Transitioning from Project-Based to Product-Based Teams(26:57) Shifting Success Metrics in Product Management(28:50) Leading Globally Distributed Teams(32:33) Maintaining Alignment and Culture in Remote Work(34:03) Balancing Autonomy and Team Dependencies(36:48) Navigating Meeting Overload in Large Organizations(38:15) The Future of Work and AI in Tech(41:30) Women in Tech: Challenges and Opportunities(47:05) Exciting Trends in Product Management and Payments

In this episode of Builders, Lee Haynes speaks with Bryan DeNosky, a Senior Software Engineer at Mojang Studios, about his journey in software engineering, leadership philosophy, the impact of AI on development, and the future of junior developers. Brian shares insights on hiring practices, team dynamics, and the importance of fostering a reliable engineering culture, especially in a global community like Minecraft. He emphasizes the need for adaptability in the face of rapid technological advancements and the evolving role of AI in the engineering workflow.Chapters(00:00) Journey to Software Engineering(02:46)⁠ Intersection of Gaming and Engineering(05:40)⁠ Leadership Philosophy in Software Development(09:38)⁠ Engineering for Minecraft's Community(12:25)⁠ Hiring for Creative Environments(15:58)⁠ Adapting to AI in Development(19:35)⁠ Harnessing AI for Enhanced Productivity(25:41)⁠ Navigating Innovation Culture: US vs Europe(30:00)⁠ The Future of Junior Developers in an AI World(35:01)⁠ Building Complex Systems: A Holistic Approach

Discover insights from our talk with Carrie Carrasco, Director of Hybrid Cloud Platform at Red Hat, as she explores hybrid cloud evolution, platform engineering success, AI in operations, and leadership growth in tech.

Chapters

(00:00) Carrie Carrasco's Unique Tech Journey

(11:29) The Evolution of Open Hybrid Cloud Platforms

(21:47) Measuring Success in Platform Engineering

(24:46) The Role of Leadership in Platform Teams

(28:23) The Influence of Others

(29:15) Mentoring Engineers Beyond Coding

(31:37) The Importance of Communication in Teams

(34:36) Hiring for Emotional Intelligence

(36:32) AI's Impact on Technical Roles

(37:40) Building Trust in AI and Automation

(40:24) Open Source Trends and Innovations

(45:06) The Role of Trust in AI Development

(47:55) Exciting Developments in Cloud Technology

(50:46) Supporting Leadership Growth in Technical Roles

(54:02) Staying Curious in a Rapidly Evolving Tech Landscape

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Caner Kilinc, Data & AI Expert at Future Key, about turning AI from theory into real-world business impact. They discuss the challenges of implementing AI, building a data-informed culture, and navigating the ethical considerations of AI development. Caner also shares perspectives on hiring practices, the role of collaboration, and how AI will shape the future of business decision-making.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to AI and Data Science Journey

(02:32) Bridging the Gap Between AI Insights and Execution

(05:56) The Role of AI in Business Decision Making

(08:29) Challenges in AI Implementation and Team Dynamics

(11:30)Fostering a Data-Informed Culture

(14:44) Hiring and Scaling Challenges in AI

(17:23) The Future of AI: Trends and Ethical Considerations

(20:11) Conclusion and Future Directions

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes speaks with Ali Farha, Senior Technical Producer at Star Stable, about his career journey and lessons from the gaming industry. Ali shares how he combines technical expertise, creativity, and leadership to build engaging player experiences while balancing production deadlines.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Ali Farha and Star Stable

(01:21) Ali's Journey into Tech and Gaming

(03:58) Defining Moments in Career Transition

(07:49) Breaking into the Gaming Industry

(12:18) Role of a Senior Technical Producer

(17:14) Balancing Production and Player Experience

(24:45) Transitioning to Leadership in Tech

(29:31) Creating Psychological Safety in Tech Teams

(30:59) Understanding Team Dynamics and Inclusivity

(33:46) Hiring Challenges in the Tech Industry

(37:07) Building a Personal Brand on LinkedIn

(37:37) The Importance of Continuous Learning

(41:29) Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Evolving Industry

(45:49) Engaging and Retaining Talent in Tech

(49:26) Fostering Creativity in Teams

(52:39) Misconceptions About Working in Gaming

(56:27) Advice for Future Leaders

In this episode of Builders, host Lee Haynes sits down with Anastasia Varava, Research Lead at SEB, to explore how technology and banking intersect. Anastasia shares her journey from academia to applied research, the pioneering role of SEBx in driving innovation within a highly regulated industry, and the challenges of implementing new technologies in banking. The conversation dives into the importance of bridging technical and non-technical teams, the future of AI in financial services, and strategies for attracting top tech talent to mission-driven organizations.

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Innovation in Banking

(00:56) Anastasia's Journey into Research and Innovation

(03:22) The Role of SEBX in Financial Innovation

(05:46) From Research to Real-World Impact

(10:50) Challenges in Banking Innovation

(13:49) Collaboration Between Technical and Non-Technical Teams

(15:26) Hiring for Applied Research Teams

(20:24) The Future of Banking Technologies

(25:00) Responsible AI Adoption in Banking

(30:53) Overhyped and Underappreciated AI Areas

(36:16) Leadership in Innovation

(42:01) Attracting Talent in Tech and Research