Constant Variables

In this episode, Tim chats about the impact our digital world has on our physical world. Using an Uber thought experiment, you will learn how tech affects energy consumption, which parts of your phone consume the most energy, what our power grid looks like, and how we store energy.

Custom software isn't always the right solution, particularly for a nimble non-profit. Adopt A Classroom's Technology Project Manager, Ryan Jordan, and Executive Director, Ann Pifer, join the show to chat about how to make a massive transition from a legacy platform over to Salesforce, how to adjust an organization's mindset to be agile, and how to work with users to make sure you are continuing to invest in features that provide the best return on investment.

When skilled developers become engineering managers, they often face a challenge in their transition from computer science to people science. Senior Engineering Manager at Target, Kate Wardin, joins the show to chat about how her own experience going from developer to manager resulted in her founding Developer First Leadership. She shares tips on how engineering managers can embrace the human side of software development, suggestions for companies struggling to fill open technical roles, and best practices for retaining tech talent within an organization.

With design in its name plus 50 years of industry experience, Design Center knows more than a thing or two about best practices for building a digital product. Design Center's Director of Strategy Chris Cornejo joins the show to chat about how design thinking has shifted from "how it looks" to "how it works", the advantages of an outcome mindset over a solutions mindset, how COVID has impacted strategy and design processes, and how to prepare for a project's initial strategy session.

What got you your first customers won't get you the next ones. Jordan Ambra of Serenity Software joins the show to talk about the challenges of going from a startup to a "real" business, transitioning from a people-oriented business to a process-oriented one, and preparing for growth by focusing on fundamentals.

A podcast episode about everything and nothing. Tim riffs with SalesReach Founder & CEO Josh Fedie on a number of topics, including how to protect your idea from getting stolen, the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur, why it's important for companies to have a CEO who is publicly visible and vulnerable, and the future of Clubhouse.

There's no content that can't be made interesting to learn. Even installing a printer can be fun as long as the experience is made to be "meaningful, memorable and motivational." Dr. Michael Allen of Allen Interactions joins the show to chat about how his company builds interactive learning programs around organizations' best practices that leave people asking for more and shares his advice for designing impactful user experiences.

In an era of subscription overload, apps with subscription revenue models have their work cut out for them acquiring (and retaining) subscribers. That's why Dan Burcaw founded Nami ML, a machine-learning company focused on helping app developers grow mobile subscription businesses by reducing churn and focusing on the core user experience. Dan joins the show to share his insights on the plight of a subscription-fatigued economy, how data collection and user privacy don't have to be enemies, and how the app landscape has changed since the launch of the App Store in 2008.

Are the tech geniuses behind the likes of Uber, Facebook, or Groupon born with a magic dust that's contributed to their success? Short answer: No. However, global fascination of these companies has created a dangerous barrier of entry into the tech industry. Software engineer, consultant, and tech startup founder Shawn Livermore is dispelling the myth of the tech genius with his best-selling book, Average Joe. Shawn joins the show to breakdown how the idolization of tech geniuses has shaped the tech industry and how tech is actually made by everyday people, how communicating complexity can be more powerful than writing code, and how anyone can become a "tech genius", but it may not be what you think it is.

When life gives you rain, puke a rainbow. That's the motto of Erica Hanna, Emmy Award winner and owner of Puke Rainbows Creative. Erica joins the show to chat about the power of video for a business, and the role it can play in getting people to adopt a product or new way of working. She shares tips on how to use video to establish the voice of your business and tells some fun stories along the way, from the origin of her unique company name to her uplifting experience working with Prince.