In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche continue their conversation with Agustin Morrone, CEO and co-founder of Vintti, a company improving the remote hiring process for U.S. and Canadian businesses across Latin America.

From his base in Barcelona, Agustin explains how Vintti combines AI, automation, and cultural alignment to build remote teams faster while keeping people at the center.

Vintti’s mission remains clear: help companies hire top Latin American talent in under 21 days, saving up to 60 percent on payroll while maintaining quality and trust. In Part 2, we explore how Vintti’s evolving systems make the remote hiring process smarter and more scalable.

Using AI to Strengthen the Remote Hiring Process

Vintti’s young, tech-driven team approaches work with an “AI-first mindset.” Rather than replacing people, AI removes repetitive tasks that slow down the remote hiring process.

Originally, every interview was manual. Now, AI manages more than half of all first-round interviews, rating English proficiency and technical expertise. Recruiters then step in to evaluate communication style and cultural fit.

“AI helps us focus on what matters most,” Agustin says. “It saves time and allows our recruiters to build stronger relationships.”

Automation Tools That Simplify Remote Recruitment

Vintti automates much of its communication and reporting to improve efficiency. Instead of sending raw resumes, it builds custom, client-ready CVs using AI. Each profile merges data from interviews, LinkedIn, and client discussions into a consistent, easy-to-read document.

Automated follow-ups and feedback loops help recruiters stay engaged throughout the remote hiring process, keeping clients informed without losing the human connection.

Automation drives consistency, but empathy drives connection.

Human Insight: The Key to Remote Hiring Success

AI helps identify top candidates, yet it can’t replace intuition. Recruiters still assess tone, enthusiasm, and motivation—critical elements of cultural fit.

Similarly, Vintti maintains personal conversations with each client to understand company culture before sourcing talent. This ensures every step of the hiring process reflects both human judgment and data-driven insight.

Testing, Learning, and Improving the Remote Hiring Process

Experimentation fuels progress at Vintti. Recruiters rely heavily on LinkedIn but constantly test new tools to expand reach and reduce friction.

“We test, compare, and adapt,” Agustin explains. “If a tool adds value, we scale it. If not, we move on.”

This culture of experimentation keeps the hiring process innovative and resilient.

Cultural Patterns in Global Recruiting

Regional patterns help Vintti understand candidate strengths. Colombian professionals often shine in customer support, Argentines excel in sales, and Mexican talent frequently leads in finance.

However, Agustin cautions against stereotyping.

“Patterns are helpful, but people are unique,” he says.

That perspective ensures fairness and flexibility in every hiring process decision.

Supporting Global Teams After Placement

Once hired, contractors integrate fully into client organizations. Vintti provides behind-the-scenes support—helping with taxes, communication skills, and professional development—while avoiding cultural interference.

Support Principle: Empower independence and provide structure.

This hands-off guidance strengthens relationships and keeps the hiring process transparent from start to finish.

Discipline and Growth in the Hiring Journey

Internally, Agustin looks for self-motivated people who take ownership. He values discipline over motivation, believing that commitment leads to better long-term outcomes.

“Motivation fades, but discipline lasts,” he explains.

This mindset ensures every member of the Vintti team contributes to refining the hiring process daily.

The Future of the Remote Hiring Process

Agustin believes AI will reshape global recruiting. While some jobs will change, others will grow. Vintti plans to:

1. Identify new skill trends early.

2. Use automation and AI to make hiring faster and smarter.

“Companies that work with AI—not against it—will win,” Agustin concludes.

Key Takeaway

Agustin Morrone’s story shows that the modern remote hiring process depends on balance. AI delivers speed and consistency, while people provide connection and understanding. Together, they build stronger teams worldwide.

Learn more about their mission at www.vintti.com.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Online Communities and Marketing
• Protecting Your Brand and Avoiding Legal Trouble
• How to Succeed with Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
• Getting the word out, promoting your blog
• Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche speak with Agustin Morrone, CEO and co-founder of Vintti. The company helps U.S. and Canadian businesses master remote hiring across Latin America. From Barcelona, Morrone shares how his bootstrapped startup is growing fast while staying true to its people-first culture.

Vintti’s mission is simple yet bold. The team helps companies build remote Latin American teams in less than 21 days. They often save clients up to 60% on payroll costs. More importantly, they deliver strong talent that fits culturally and professionally. Morrone’s vision redefines remote hiring as a human-centered process built on trust and shared goals.

From Argentina to Barcelona: Building a Remote Hiring Vision

Agustin Morrone was born in Argentina and now lives in Spain. After earning an MBA, he joined a startup that automated financial planning for global firms. There, he discovered a major problem. Many companies could automate their systems, yet they struggled to find qualified remote professionals.

“There was a shortage of skilled professionals who understood the U.S. market and could deliver real value,” Morrone explains.

That insight inspired him to launch Vintti, a company dedicated to remote hiring for North American clients. The focus on Latin America made sense. The region shares time zones, values, and strong English skills. This approach ensures clients receive not only technical expertise but also a cultural match.

Building Trust Through Secure Remote Hiring

When companies hire for finance or accounting roles, data security becomes critical. Morrone explains how Vintti protects both sides of the partnership.

“We never access client data. Clients install their own software and security measures,” he says.

The company runs detailed background and reference checks. It verifies professional histories and technical skills. As a result, every candidate meets strict ethical and professional standards. This attention to detail makes remote hiring safe and reliable for both clients and talent.

Culture and Fit: The Heart of Remote Hiring Success

About 85% of Vintti’s workforce operates as contractors. However, the company goes far beyond quick placements. Morrone believes the hardest part of remote hiring is not skill—it’s culture.

“The toughest thing to find is cultural alignment,” he says. “Technical skills matter, but culture determines success.”

Rather than keeping a bench of idle candidates, Vintti searches for the perfect match each time. Every placement aligns with a client’s values, work style, and long-term goals. As a result, teams perform better and relationships last longer.

Scaling Remote Hiring Through Relationships and Community

Growth at Vintti has come through real relationships, not ads. Paid campaigns have been challenging. However, outreach-driven marketing has delivered great results.

“We focus on relationships—LinkedIn engagement, conferences, and meeting clients face-to-face,” says Morrone.

This people-first approach gives Vintti a clear advantage in today’s remote hiring market. After the pandemic, many leaders wanted personal connection again. Therefore, Vintti’s direct and genuine approach builds credibility and long-term trust.

Leadership Lessons in Remote Hiring

Interestingly, one of Vintti’s biggest challenges is its own remote hiring. Morrone personally interviews each finalist to protect company culture.

“As CEO, I see myself as the guardian of our culture,” he explains. “I hire people with ambition, alignment, and attitude.”

To support growth, Vintti invests heavily in processes and standard procedures. These systems ensure consistent onboarding and operations.

“When you grow fast, it’s hard to document everything,” Morrone admits. “But once you find what works, you have to capture it and scale it.”

Key Takeaway

Agustin Morrone’s story offers a roadmap for modern remote hiring. His journey proves that success comes from trust, integrity, and strong relationships. Vintti shows that hiring across borders is not just about filling roles—it’s about building teams that share values and vision.

Learn more about Vintti’s mission at www.vintti.com.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Online Communities and Marketing
• Protecting Your Brand and Avoiding Legal Trouble
• How to Succeed with Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
• Getting the word out, promoting your blog
• Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In this continuation of the Building Better Developers interview series, Kevin Adelsberger—owner of Adelsberger Marketing—returns to explore how businesses can refine their identity and message once the foundation is set. This episode focuses on branding and marketing fundamentals, uncovering what really drives connection, credibility, and growth.

“Thinking about your brand and overall messaging is more important than color or font,” Kevin explains. “If your brand feels disconnected, no color will fix that.”

The conversation moves beyond logos and design to the deeper work of communicating who you are and what you stand for—authentically and consistently.

Branding: More Than Color and Fonts

While many companies spend hours perfecting color palettes, Kevin challenges that mindset. He believes color psychology is largely a myth, with few industries where color directly affects success. Instead, businesses should focus on how their messaging and visuals align.

Fonts, he adds, do have power. The right typeface can instantly signal tone—formal, playful, or high-tech—but only when used intentionally.

“If you want to be a fun, crazy brand and your visuals feel stiff, no amount of color will fix the disconnect.”

A strong brand reflects alignment: visuals, tone, and message working together to create trust and recognition.

Keep Your Message Steady, but Your Website Fresh

Kevin offers a balanced approach to maintaining your digital presence. Instead of obsessing over analytics or daily edits, he recommends structured consistency:

• Review your website monthly or quarterly for updates or broken features.
• Keep messaging steady, but stay alert for functionality issues like broken forms or outdated information.
• Focus on inbound marketing—making sure your brand is ready when customers come looking—then turn attention to outbound efforts like networking and content creation.

“Most people never look at their website after it launches—that’s a bigger problem than over-tweaking it.”

Once your brand identity and message are established, spend more time sharing your expertise rather than endlessly adjusting pixels.

Marketing Fundamentals for Beginners

For entrepreneurs and small business owners who feel lost, Kevin recommends a few key resources to master branding and marketing fundamentals:

1. Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller — Understand how clear messaging connects you with customers.

2. EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey — Learn business and marketing principles from a leadership perspective.

3. The Four Conversations by Blair Enns — Explore how to sell through consultative, relationship-driven discussions.

Kevin also emphasizes simple, actionable steps:

• Define your competitive advantages and what makes you different.
• Create a one-liner that captures who you help and how.
• Avoid generic stock photos—real people and stories build trust.
• Feature your leadership team online; authenticity builds credibility.

Learn from Competitors—Ethically

Healthy competition can inspire innovation. Kevin encourages learning from peers and even collaborating with them. He participates in groups like the Bureau of Digital, a network of agency owners who share ideas without direct competition.

“Artists steal,” Kevin jokes, “but the goal is to make other people’s ideas better, not to copy them.”

For those in established industries, he suggests finding professional or ownership groups—places where you can share, learn, and grow together.

AI’s Impact on Marketing and Creativity

The conversation inevitably turns to artificial intelligence. Kevin views AI as both a tool and a threat—a resource that democratizes creativity while also reshaping industries.

He points out the uncertainty around copyright, authenticity, and ethics, but admits that ignoring AI isn’t an option. His team meets weekly to test new tools and evaluate where they can help.

“We use AI to assist us, not replace us,” Kevin says. “It helps us work faster, but not everything it creates is ready for prime time.”

From generating first-draft website content to creating AI voiceovers when budgets are tight, Kevin shows how these tools can fill gaps—without losing the human touch.

Staying Grounded in a Changing Landscape

Despite new technologies and shifting trends, Kevin’s message remains timeless: strong branding is built on clarity, consistency, and authenticity.

As the conversation wraps up, he reminds listeners that tools may evolve, but trust remains the core of every successful brand.

“Stay human, stay honest, and keep refining your foundation.”

A Little Background

Kevin Adelsberger is the founder of Adelsberger Marketing, where they create work that grows their clients’ businesses, in a culture that values their team and the Jackson, Tennessee, community. After founding in 2014, Kevin went on to be a co-founder of Our Jackson Home and host its podcast from 2015 to 2019. 

In 2016, Kevin was recognized as an emerging leader by Leadership Jackson. Then, in 2017, Adelsberger Marketing was named the Emerging Business of the Year by the Jackson Chamber. In 2019, Adelsberger Marketing sold partial ownership to Alexander, Thompson, and Arnold, CPAs. In 2020, Union University recognized Kevin with the Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Media award. 

Kevin currently serves on advisory committees for Leadership Tennessee and Jackson State Community College and is a board member for theCO in Jackson, Tennessee. 

He also hosts a podcast about business in West Tennessee called 40×45. 

Kevin lives in Jackson with his wife and business partner, Renae, and their two children. They are active foster parents and are involved members of First Baptist Church, Jackson. They are also some of the few to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings from below the Mason-Dixon line. #Skol

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Online Communities and Marketing
• Protecting Your Brand and Avoiding Legal Trouble
• How to Succeed with Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
• Getting the word out, promoting your blog
• Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche sit down with Kevin Adelsberger, owner of Adelsberger Marketing, to explore how small businesses can build success through branding basics. The discussion ties into the season’s theme — Building Better Foundations — and shows how a thoughtful marketing strategy helps transform side hustles into thriving companies.

Listen now to the full episode on Building Better Developers, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Develpreneur.com — and stay tuned for Part 2 of the conversation with Kevin Adelsberger.

Starting Small: Branding Basics from Burritos to Business

Kevin’s marketing journey started with burritos — literally. While working at a nonprofit, he began helping a local restaurant with its marketing in exchange for food. That early “say yes to everything” mindset helped him gain experience and connections.

“When you’re starting out, the answer is often yes to everything,” Kevin says. “But that can spread you too thin.”

This early phase taught him one of the first branding basics: you must start broad to learn, but eventually narrow your focus to your strengths. Developers, freelancers, and small business owners can take this same approach — experiment early, then specialize as your reputation and client base grow.

Knowing When to Rebrand

As side hustles evolve into established businesses, many entrepreneurs ask: Should I rebrand?

Kevin’s advice is clear — it depends on your audience.

“If your new focus serves a completely different audience, rebranding makes sense. But if there’s overlap, changing your name or logo might cost you valuable recognition.”

One of the key branding basics is understanding brand equity — the value built over time through consistent visuals, messaging, and reputation. A name people know is worth protecting.

The Four Branding Basics Every Business Needs

Kevin shares his firm’s framework for defining a complete brand identity — four elements that every company should eventually refine:

1. Visual Identity – your logo, colors, and design style.

2. Positioning – how you serve the market and what makes you different.

3. Identity – your mission, vision, and core values.

4. Messaging – how you communicate and connect with your audience.

He notes that new businesses don’t need all of these perfected on day one. Start with visual identity and positioning, then evolve the rest as your business matures.

“You don’t have to get everything perfect on day one. Start simple, then refine as you grow.”

Avoiding Common Marketing Mistakes

When asked about bad marketing, Kevin emphasizes that missteps often come from ignoring your audience. “If you’re doing something just to brag and not to provide value,” he warns, “you’re going to have a bad time.”

A big part of branding basics is keeping your customers at the center. Test your messages, get outside feedback, and consider how different people might interpret your marketing. Kevin also highlights the danger of having too few perspectives — especially when creating ads or visuals. Diversity in feedback helps prevent tone-deaf campaigns and strengthens connections.

Investing in the Right Visual Identity

The conversation wraps with a discussion on logos — a key topic in branding basics. While giant brands like Nike or Amazon have iconic designs, Kevin explains that small businesses don’t need to overthink it.

“A good logo used well adds professionalism,” he says. “A bad one gets you confused with everyone else.”

He recommends investing in a professional brand kit that includes proper logo formats, colors, and fonts. Consistency builds recognition — and recognition builds trust.

Branding Basics for Long-Term Success

The first part of the interview with Kevin Adelsberger reminds us that branding isn’t about fancy design or big budgets. It’s about clarity, consistency, and connection. Whether you’re launching your first side hustle or re-shaping a growing business, mastering branding basics helps you build a foundation that lasts.

A Little Background

Kevin Adelsberger is the founder of Adelsberger Marketing, where they create work that grows their clients’ businesses, in a culture that values their team and the Jackson, Tennessee, community. After founding in 2014, Kevin went on to be a co-founder of Our Jackson Home and host its podcast from 2015 to 2019. 

In 2016, Kevin was recognized as an emerging leader by Leadership Jackson. Then, in 2017, Adelsberger Marketing was named the Emerging Business of the Year by the Jackson Chamber. In 2019, Adelsberger Marketing sold partial ownership to Alexander, Thompson, and Arnold, CPAs. In 2020, Union University recognized Kevin with the Distinguished Achievement in Arts and Media award. 

Kevin currently serves on advisory committees for Leadership Tennessee and Jackson State Community College and is a board member for theCO in Jackson, Tennessee. 

He also hosts a podcast about business in West Tennessee called 40×45. 

Kevin lives in Jackson with his wife and business partner, Renae, and their two children. They are active foster parents and are involved members of First Baptist Church, Jackson. They are also some of the few to cheer on the Minnesota Vikings from below the Mason-Dixon line. #Skol

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Online Communities and Marketing
• Protecting Your Brand and Avoiding Legal Trouble
• How to Succeed with Digital Marketing for Small Businesses
• Getting the word out, promoting your blog
• Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche continue their insightful conversation with Adam Malone, exploring how trust and reliability drive stronger teams and foster more robust customer relationships.

We pick up with Adam, who opens by emphasizing that reliability begins with consistency. Teams should revisit their guiding principles every couple of weeks—not just at the start of a project. These regular check-ins foster alignment, identify minor missteps early, and maintain clear priorities.

“Even if it feels repetitive, that one time someone speaks up can save weeks of rework,” Adam explains.

He adds, It’s not about being flawless. It’s about being consistent, accountable, and transparent—values that transform principles from words into action.

Reinforcing Reliability Through Shared Principles

Reliable teams share a standard compass. Adam recommends boiling down guiding principles to one or two clear slides so everyone can easily reference them during meetings.

When conflict arises, those principles provide the framework for productive discussions. Rather than asking who’s right, teams can ask: Does this decision align with our values?

“That constant reinforcement builds reliability,” Adam says. “It keeps everyone anchored, no matter who’s leading the conversation.”

This shared structure enables teams to make consistent, principle-driven decisions—an essential component of long-term reliability.

Extending Reliability to the Customer Experience

Michael then turns the discussion outward: how does this translate to the customer experience?

Adam explains that reliability for customers begins with a clear definition. Many organizations claim to deliver “great service,” but few define what that means in concrete, repeatable terms. Is it speed? Fairness? Empathy?

When teams clearly define those expectations—how to handle complaints, returns, or exceptional cases—they make it a measurable concept.

“We all own the customer experience,” Adam emphasizes. “It’s not one department’s job—it’s everyone’s responsibility.”

By conducting after-action reviews and evaluating whether customer interactions align with agreed principles, businesses ensure that it becomes a company-wide culture rather than a customer-service function.

The Three Elements of Reliability

Adam breaks reliability into three key elements that inspire trust: empathy, authenticity, and performance.

1. Empathy – Customers recognize reliability when they feel heard. Confirming concerns and restating issues shows genuine care.

2. Authenticity – True reliability requires sincerity. People can spot a scripted response immediately; being real always resonates.

3. Performance – Reliability is proven when promises are met. Even small, predictable actions—like sending updates exactly when promised—reinforce credibility.

“Reliability is the visible form of trust,” Adam says. “It’s how people know we’ll do what we say.”

These principles work equally well for internal teams, turning accountability into culture.

Aligning Internal and External Reliability

Adam also shares how teams can connect internal with external outcomes. In his “out-of-the-box” sessions, team members from every department—engineering, operations, and customer service—gather to experience a product exactly as a customer would.

“Every process has a supplier and a receiver,” Adam explains. “Bringing them together helps everyone understand how reliability feels from start to finish.”

This hands-on approach highlights where it breaks down and how teams can collaboratively improve it. It bridges gaps between departments and strengthens the company's overall dependability.

Reliability Through Early, Honest Conversations

Adam closes with one of the episode’s most memorable points: reliability thrives on honesty. Avoiding tough conversations damages trust.

“The argument’s going to happen eventually,” he says. “Like bad fish, it doesn’t get better with age.”

By addressing conflicts early, teams preserve transparency, reduce frustration, and maintain consistent reliability across every relationship—internal or external.

Final Thoughts

In this powerful continuation of their discussion, Adam Malone reminds listeners that reliability is more than a process—it’s a promise. From steady communication to authentic customer care, reliable organizations earn trust through consistent action.

Reliability is what transforms teams into partners and customers into advocates. It’s not built in a day—it’s proven every day.

Connect with Adam Malone

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to learn more from Adam, he’s always open to sharing insights and connecting with like-minded professionals.

• LinkedIn: Adam Malone on LinkedIn
• Website: http://thetenaciousoperator.com/

Visit him on LinkedIn and drop him a message to continue the discussion around leadership, reliability, and building consistent customer experiences.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• The Leadership Leap: Habits That Elevate Developers to New Heights
• Turning Feedback into Future Success: A Guide for Developers
• Satisfy The Customer – The Agile Manifesto
• Building Better Foundations Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In the first half of our conversation with Adam Malone, founder of The Tenacious Operator, we explore the Power of Trust — how it drives leadership, strengthens teams, and turns potential project failure into growth. From large-scale ERP rollouts to everyday collaboration, Adam shows that the Power of Trust is what truly separates good teams from great ones.

Why the Power of Trust Matters

Adam begins with a story familiar to many project leaders: a major ERP implementation where everything looked perfect on paper. All dashboards were green, metrics were solid, and executives were confident. Yet almost overnight, the project unraveled.

The root cause? A loss of trust. Team members stayed silent about risks. Operations fixed issues without communicating them. The requirements were “complete,” but in reality, they were incomplete. When trust fails, clarity disappears — and even the best teams lose momentum.

When everyone claims “we’re on track,” but no one feels safe to speak up, the Power of Trust has already broken down.

The Power of Trust in Psychological Safety

One of the key insights Adam shares is how psychological safety amplifies the Power of Trust. Proper safety allows people to say, “I’m concerned,” or “This might fail,” without fear of backlash.

He recommends creating space for negative feedback through deliberate questions:

• “How could this project fail?”
• “What are we not seeing yet?”

Conducting a reverse post-mortem helps uncover weak points before they become disasters. This proactive honesty fuels progress and strengthens the Power of Trust across the entire team.

Seeing Work Clearly: The Power of Trust in Transparency

Drawing from Toyota’s famous Gemba concept — “go to the actual place” — Adam urges teams to physically and mentally visit where value is created. In manufacturing, that’s the factory floor. In software, it’s the analyst’s spreadsheet, the developer’s codebase, or the tester’s environment.

When teams observe each other’s real work, they develop empathy and shared understanding. That transparency reinforces the Power of Trust — helping communication thrive where silos once stood.

Disagree and Commit: The Power of Trust in Alignment

Conflict doesn’t destroy trust; it refines it. Adam calls this the disagree and commit principle — a hallmark of mature teams.

Healthy disagreement surfaces risks, values, and differing priorities. Once discussed openly, the team commits to the final decision together. No finger-pointing, no second-guessing. This habit embodies the Power of Trust by turning friction into forward motion.

The Power of Trust isn’t about avoiding conflict — it’s about using it to align around shared goals.

Guiding Principles: Building Systems Around the Power of Trust

Before a project begins, Adam recommends defining guiding principles — the rules of engagement that sustain the Power of Trust.

Examples include:

• “Customer satisfaction must stay above a 4.0 rating.”
• “Average call time can rise by no more than 10 seconds.”
• “All initiatives must deliver ROI within two quarters.”

When these principles are written down, decisions become consistent and fair. Trust grows because everyone understands how success will be measured and maintained.

Leading Through the Power of Trust

For leaders, the Trust means striking a balance between empathy and accountability. Adam suggests two types of sponsors for every major initiative:

• An executive sponsor who clears political obstacles.
• An operational sponsor who stays close to day-to-day work.

Add in a skilled project manager who encourages honest conversation, and the Power of Trust becomes the foundation of performance — not just a talking point.

Key Takeaways from Part 1

• The Power of Trust transforms fear into feedback and silence into success.
• Psychological safety isn’t soft — it’s how great teams stay sharp.
• Transparency fosters empathy, and empathy in turn builds trust.
• Healthy conflict strengthens alignment when teams disagree and commit.
• Guiding principles establish a framework that fosters trust.

Connect with Adam Malone

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to learn more from Adam, he’s always open to sharing insights and connecting with like-minded professionals.

• LinkedIn: Adam Malone on LinkedIn
• Website: http://thetenaciousoperator.com/

Visit him on LinkedIn and drop him a message to continue the discussion around leadership, reliability, and building consistent customer experiences.

Coming in Part 2: Adam returns to discuss how culture, consistency, and clarity sustain Trust across global teams — and how leaders can turn these lessons into long-term results.

Subscribe or follow the Building Better Developers podcast to catch Part 2 with Adam Malone.”

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Passive Networking and Building Trust
• Building Customer Trust in Business: Turning Mistakes into Opportunities
• Trust But Verify – Avoid Business Assumptions
• Building Better Foundations – With Bonus Content

Season 26 of the Building Better Developers podcast is all about Building Better Foundations. In Episode 2, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche explore today’s most flexible coding options—no-code, low-code, and a rising trend called vibe coding.

 

Understanding Modern Coding Options

Software creation no longer requires writing every line by hand. Today’s coding options range from drag-and-drop builders to AI-generated code, giving teams new ways to move quickly from idea to launch.

No-Code Coding Options for Rapid Builds

No-code platforms enable you to assemble applications visually using pre-built components and workflows—ideal for creating landing pages, prototypes, or internal dashboards. The trade-offs for this coding option are scalability, security, and platform lock-in.

Low-Code Coding Options for Integrated Workflows

Low-code combines visual design with the ability to add custom logic where needed. Need email integration or payment processing? This coding option strikes a balance between speed and targeted customization. Even Excel with VBA macros fits here.

Vibe Coding: The AI-Driven Coding Option

Vibe coding utilizes large-language-model assistants, such as GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT, to generate code from natural language prompts. Treated like a junior developer, this coding option is powerful for prototypes and boilerplate but still requires human review and testing.

Choosing the Right Coding Option

Match project goals to the best coding option:

1. Fast MVP or marketing site: No-code.

2. Workflows that need integrations: Low-code.

3. Quick prototypes or repetitive tasks: Vibe coding with code reviews.

Scaling and Securing Your Coding Options

Regardless of which coding option you start with, protect the future:

• Document architecture and dependencies early.

• Pin framework and library versions to avoid drift.

• Run security and performance tests with real data.

• Budget time for manual reviews—even when AI writes the code.

Final Thoughts on Coding Options

The expanding menu of coding options gives developers unprecedented flexibility. No-code speeds experiments, low-code balances speed with control, and vibe coding adds AI power. By understanding each approach’s strengths and limits, you can launch quickly while building a foundation that lasts.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Developer Career Growth: Breaking Through Stagnation

• Dealing with Legacy Code: When to Let Go and Start Anew

• Code Refactoring: Maintaining Clean, Efficient Code

• The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content

• Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In launching Season 26 of Building Better Developers, the hosts zero in on what truly sustains developer growth. Building Better Foundations becomes both the theme and the promise: this season will dig into the “why” behind tech trends, sharpen essential habits, and help you stand on solid ground in a shifting landscape.

 

Why Building Better Foundations Matters

Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche acknowledge that in a sea of buzzwords—AI, cloud, low-code, no-code, vibe coding—it’s tempting to chase the next shiny tool. But they emphasize: without a foundation of clear reasoning and strong practices, those tools are at risk of collapsing under you. This season’s goal is to get past surface hype to the principles that outlast trends.

Building Better Foundations through Clarity on Buzzwords

Part of the mission is deconstructing the buzz. The hosts plan to peel back layers—not just what new tools do, but whythey matter (or don’t). Each episode will dig into a topic’s role for developers, for business, and for end users. Below are three key concepts you’ll hear about—and understanding them is part of your foundation.

Building Better Foundations in Integrating Legacy + Future

It’s one thing to use new tech in a greenfield project; it’s another to graft it onto 20-year-old systems. Rob emphasizes that migrating requires you to understand why the legacy system was built the way it was. Otherwise, you risk picking the wrong tools or design patterns and creating chaos.

Building Better Foundations for Scale and Sustainability

Michael warns: the fastest launch isn’t always the wisest decision. Prototype tools built with low-code, no-code, or AI may serve you well early, but if they can’t scale, you’re stuck. This season will explore how to choose tools with an eye toward growth, pivot paths, and long-term stability.

Building Better Foundations in Developer Mindset

Beyond tools and architecture lies mindset. A strong developer habit is thinking intentionally—not chasing every “cool” trend, but grounding decisions in purpose, trade-offs, maintainability, and cost. As Rob says, a true developer is marked by how consistently they bring those fundamentals to every environment.

Join the Building Better Foundations Conversation

Rob and Michael invite you into the process. Email them at  [email protected] with your buzzwords, topic ideas, or challenges. This season is as much about dialogue as it is about lessons.

“We grow together. We want to make sure you’re part of this journey.” – Rob Broadhead

Key Takeaways for Your Developer Foundation

• Keyphrase alert: Building Better Foundations is the guiding lens—ask “why” before jumping into any tool.

• When modernizing legacy systems, start with context and purpose, not just the latest tech.

• Always think about scale and pivot options—don’t let fast prototypes become dead ends.

• Cultivate mindset over tool obsession. The habits you build are the real foundation.

Additional Resources

• Building And Reinforcing Your Foundational Skills

• Stories Instead of Buzzwords – Showing What You Know

• Ramping Up Your Skills Through Broad Experience

• The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content

• Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

Season 25 of Building Better Developers with AI wraps up with a conversation that is purely human.

For over thirty episodes, Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche used AI to revisit past seasons, uncover new talking points, and spark fresh discussions. For the finale they chose a different path, closing the season without digital assistance.

This final episode is a straightforward, human-led reflection on what we learned from months of collaboration with AI: the insights gained, the surprises uncovered, and the lessons that will shape future seasons.

How the AI-Assisted Podcast Worked

Throughout the season, AI served as an idea partner.

Using past episode titles and show notes, we asked large-language models to highlight themes, surface overlooked connections, and suggest new topics.

The process felt less like automation and more like collaboration—AI proposed possibilities, we debated them, and together we refined each conversation.

Key Insight: Treat AI as a partner that expands your thinking, not a shortcut that replaces it.

Key Takeaways from our AI-Assisted Podcast Experimentation

1. Clear Prompts Create Better Results

A successful AI-assisted podcast depends on clear, focused questions. Breaking large tasks into small, specific prompts produced the most relevant and useful responses.

2. Feedback Loops Improve Quality

We quickly learned that saving strong outputs, rejecting weak ones, and resetting context when needed steadily improved the AI’s suggestions from one episode to the next.

3. Human Judgment Still Leads

AI delivered outlines and surprising cross-episode links, but final editorial control stayed with us. Only the hosts can decide what truly resonates with listeners.

Reality Check: AI can offer insight, but only humans can decide what truly matters.

Surprises Along the Way

• Fresh angles on familiar topics. AI revealed links between older episodes that we hadn’t noticed before, pointing out recurring themes, complementary ideas, and even follow-up questions we never realized were related.
• Faster prep with solid structure. By generating draft outlines and well-structured talking points, AI significantly reduced the hours we normally spend preparing each episode, giving us more time to refine our ideas and plan engaging discussions—without sacrificing depth or quality.
• Occasional misfires. At times the model misread the conversation’s context—offering suggestions that sounded plausible but didn’t fit the topic—which underscored how essential it is for humans to review, fact-check, and guide every step of the process.

These moments proved that an AI-assisted podcast is most valuable as a creative catalyst, not a finished product.

Tips for Your Own AI-Assisted Podcast

Thinking of running your own season review? Our experience offers a roadmap:

1. Start with transcripts or detailed show notes.

2. Divide tasks into small prompts: summaries, quotes, cross-episode themes.

3. Snapshot strong responses so you can reference or reuse them later.

4. Verify and edit everything. AI drafts are starting points, never final copy.

Pro Tip: When a thread drifts off-topic, copy the best context into a fresh chat to regain focus.

Why the Finale Was Different

While AI enriched nearly every episode this season, the closing conversation remained entirely human.

We wanted to pause the technology and reflect on the experience ourselves—to discuss what AI taught us about creativity, context, and collaboration without relying on the very tool we were evaluating.

That choice underscored our biggest lesson: AI is a powerful assistant, not a replacement.

It can accelerate ideas and surface connections, but the ultimate storytelling voice must stay human.

Looking Ahead to Season 26

Season 25 confirmed that AI can be a powerful collaborator for developers and content creators alike.

Our AI-assisted podcast delivered richer conversations, new ideas for upcoming seasons, and a faster way to surface timeless lessons from our own archive.

But our human-only finale reminds us that judgment, creativity, and vision remain uniquely ours.

As we plan Season 26, we’ll keep using AI as a brainstorming partner—while ensuring the heart of every episode comes from real conversations and lived experience.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Moving Forward – Releasing Past Mistakes
• Admitting Defeat – Moving Forward And Accepting The Loss
• Pivoting: How to Embrace Change and Fuel Your Professional Growth
• Planning For Growth – Give Your Changes Time To Take Hold
• The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content
• Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content

In this episode of Building Better Developers, hosts Rob Broadhead and Michael Meloche revisit their popular discussion “Your Developer Journey – How to Leave a Lasting Legacy.” They use AI-generated prompts only as conversation starters, then share their own insights on what a developer legacy truly means today.

You’ll hear practical advice on writing code that stands the test of time, sharing work through open source, and creating a collaborative culture that thrives long after you’ve moved on. Whether you’re a junior engineer mapping your career path or a seasoned architect shaping teams, this conversation offers a roadmap for making your impact felt—and remembered.

Why a Developer Legacy Matters

A developer legacy is more than old code—it’s the enduring value your work provides. Rob and Michael show how your professional footprint can guide teams long after you’ve left a project or company.

Pro Tip: Adoption is the real metric of legacy. Aim for solutions people use every day.

From Quick Fixes to Timeless Impact

Move from “just closing tickets” to designing systems that stand the test of time.

• Readable, maintainable code with clear names and documentation.
• Robust testing so future developers can extend features confidently.
• Stable interfaces that prevent painful rewrites.

Key Takeaway: Clean, tested code is the cornerstone of a lasting developer legacy.

Open Source: A Fast Track to Developer Legacy

Michael highlights how open source accelerates your developer legacy:

• Publish a reusable tool or library.
• Provide a five-minute “Getting Started” guide.
• Welcome contributions and feedback to refine your craft.

Reminder: A well-documented repository is a résumé that never sleeps.

Culture Outlives Code

Rob emphasizes mentorship and collaborative culture as essential to any developer legacy:

• Mentor teammates to spread good practices.
• Host “mini hackathons” or team debugging sessions.
• Reward shared learning over individual heroics.

Insight: Culture is the invisible code base that scales excellence.

Milestones on the Legacy Path

Every career has pivotal steps where legacy thinking grows:

• From first pull requests to defining team standards.
• From individual contributor to automation architect.
• From private successes to public tools and templates.

Challenge: Ship one reusable script or CI template this week and invite team feedback—your first step toward a visible developer legacy.

AI as a Legacy Multiplier

AI can accelerate your developer legacy when treated as a partner:

• Draft tests or refactor with AI assistance.
• Summarize modules for quick onboarding docs.
• Share successful prompts as a team “AI playbook.”

Final Takeaway

A developer legacy is deliberate: thoughtful code, shared knowledge, and a culture of mentorship. Start today—document, mentor, and publish—and your impact will outlive any single job.

Stay Connected: Join the Developreneur Community

We invite you to join our community and share your coding journey with us. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting, there’s always room to learn and grow together. Contact us at [email protected] with your questions, feedback, or suggestions for future episodes. Together, let’s continue exploring the exciting world of software development.

Additional Resources

• Moving Forward – Releasing Past Mistakes
• Admitting Defeat – Moving Forward And Accepting The Loss
• Pivoting: How to Embrace Change and Fuel Your Professional Growth
• Planning For Growth – Give Your Changes Time To Take Hold
• The Developer Journey Videos – With Bonus Content
• Building Better Developers With AI Podcast Videos – With Bonus Content