In this episode of the Convergence Podcast, Ashok welcomes Derek Ferguson, Chief Software Officer at Fitch Group, for the first of a two-part series. Derek shares how his unique blend of a music background and decades in product leadership have shaped his approach to leading high-performing software teams. From his insights on disciplined creativity to the vital relationship between agile methods and microservices, Derek provides a wealth of actionable advice for building successful product teams.

Derek also unpacks the challenges of aligning business stakeholders with technology teams, earning their trust, and navigating complex migrations with an innovative yet pragmatic approach. Whether you’re curious about how design, agile, and DevOps intersect or you’re leading a team striving to deliver better software faster, this conversation is packed with invaluable lessons.

Unlock the full potential of your product team with Integral’s player coaches, experts in lean, human-centered design. Visit integral.io/convergence for a free Product Success Lab workshop to gain clarity and confidence in tackling any product design or engineering challenge.

Inside the episode…

• How a music background translates to product leadership.

• Building trust with business stakeholders in agile environments.

• Why microservices, agile, and DevOps are a winning trio.

• Real-world stories of disciplined creativity at work.

• The importance of rethinking legacy processes in migrations.

Mentioned in this episode

• Fitch Group

• Agile coaching

• Microservices and DevOps methodologies

• Integral.io