Great Software People

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Julian Browne’s storied career is one with some stellar highlights, from a remarkable selection of CTO roles, to leading roles at businesses like Hive.

He wasn’t always destined for software, however, as a path set for biology gave way to a passion for technology… 

Julian’s approach to team dynamics and constant course-correcting is exemplary for any aspiring CTO - discover how he learned to lead teams in the tech space, and how you can do the same, on episode 20 of Great Software People!

This episode covers:

• The best lessons you’ll learn being from the toughest challenges
• Why culture is key over relying on star programmers
• The different approach to comms when operating as a CTO
• Using a blog to promote better practices in the industry

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

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Almost every piece of music made today is done so with Julian Storer’s digital fingerprints embedded in it, such is the reach of his work.

From writing a groundbreaking DAW to creating the future of DSP libraries, his journey in software is utterly unique, and places him perfectly to see the AI-enabled future of creative industries.

Join us on Great Software People to learn more about the hidden side behind your favourite music, and whether AI threatens to turn it on its head…

This episode covers:

• Building JUCE, a library so widely used in music software today
• The challenges that faced cross-platform developers
• How Julian built a DAW company, sold it, and got it back again
• The role of generative AI in music, and whether it’s here to stay

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

HeadChannel: https://headchannel.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/headchannel/
Richard Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbundock/
Julian Storer: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-storer-2412b194/
Cmajor Software: https://cmajor.dev/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/cmajor-software-ltd/

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From humble beginnings with an Access database to a renowned Umbraco expert, Heather Floyd’s software journey is a tad unconventional, but equally extraordinary.

She’s spoken at Codegarden and carved her path in software across decades, so it was a joy to catch up with her at Codegarden 2024 to hear her take on the future of Umbraco, the power of community, and how programming rewires our brains…

This episode covers:

• How Heather branched into software despite having no initial interest
• Why stretching yourself is essential to growth and learning
• Finding community to help when programming becomes a solitary pursuit
• How programming rewires your brain’s ability to solve problems
• Heather’s approach to working with sub-optimal clients

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

HeadChannel: https://www.linkedin.com/company/headchannel/
Richard Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbundock/
Heather Floyd: https://www.heatherfloyd.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherfloyd/

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Had enough of bad leaders? Take a leaf from Seemin Suleri’s book, and be the leader you wish you had…

With huge leadership roles in 288 Group, AXA Health, and most recently becoming VP of Engineering at Prima, Seemin’s human-centric approach is absolutely game changing for tech startups and scaleups alike!

Join us on Great Software People as Seemin shares the importance of transparency in software dev leaders, her incredible work with Women in Tech Dorset, and how to scale a remote-first global business.

This episode covers:

• How following a path less-travelled led Seemin to her successful path
• Seemin’s entry into leadership to refute bad leadership
• The current challenge balancing career progression and starting a family
• What made her experience at 288 Group so influential
• Preparing for the future of technology

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

HeadChannel: https://headchannel.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/headchannel/
Richard Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbundock/
Seemin Suleri: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suleri/

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Industry-leading businesses now don’t come from anywhere… they come from everywhere.

Remote-first companies are nothing new to Jose Torres, whose roles in software saw him embracing hybrid ways of working long before the world was forced into it.

Now CTO at Wheel.io, his story can guide us all on building top class teams around the globe, and how you can build a location-independent career that works for you.

This episode covers:

• Jose's early passion for robotics and how it fuelled his software journey
• The evolution of remote work culture since his time at GitLab, one of the earliest remote-first adopters
• Invaluable lessons for scaling companies internationally
• A deep dive into Jose's current venture, Wheel.io 

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

HeadChannel: https://www.linkedin.com/company/headchannel/
Richard Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbundock/
Jose Torres: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randomprimate/
Wheel.io: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getwheel-io/

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What makes a tech startup shine? 

The unique nature of each startup demands empathetic leadership of a CTO, something which Stefan Anca exhibits in abundance, having Co-Founded the Berlin-based mental health platform, Likeminded.

Join us as we learn from his invaluable experiences, evolving from mobile development through to a resilience-building Founder’s journey, and peer into the AI-enabled future that promises to redefine software development…

This episode covers:

• Stefan’s core beliefs for the best approach to people management
• How leaders should tweak their strategy between unique startups
• The power of Stefan’s core belief in empathetic leadership
• AI’s transformation of the software development role as we know it

This episode is sponsored by HeadChannel - the experts in developing seamless and business-oriented software solutions.

They engage over 200 software experts across 3 continents, using data to help design incredible software all delivered faster, better, cheaper. Learn more at 👉 https://headchannel.co.uk/.

HeadChannel: https://www.linkedin.com/company/headchannel/
Richard Bundock: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbundock/
Stefan Anca: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefananca/

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Among the industries being touched by AI, there’s an undercover revolution in content archival that’ll change the future of journalism.

From her early start with British Pathe to her role as Senior Manager, Library and Media Management at Asharq News, Kathey Battrick has had a front row seat to watch media metadata evolve for the modern age.

Join us on Great Software People for a fascinating look into the future archival, content management, and its intersection with artificial intelligence.

This episode covers:

• Kathey’s early roles, and how they became so formative to her current career
• Developing custom software for content archival
• AI’s role in creating multilingual metadata and facial recognition systems
• Essential advice for software leaders with large teams

Cohaesus Group: https://group.cohaesus.co.uk/
Kathey Battrick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathey-battrick-0096281

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From humble beginnings come some of our industry’s greatest minds. 

Once curious about MATLAB, a young Kunle Ogunjimi’s curiosity bloomed into a fascinating software career!

The lessons we stand to learn from his journey so far are plentiful, and in this episode of Great Software People we learn the art of guiding your early career path, adapting to remote working environments, and hear predictions for the AI-enabled future of Android development.

This episode covers:

• Matlab being a gateway into coding
• Why you should learn things outside your comfort zone
• The evolving roles of devs in the next 5-10 years
• Android’s future

Kunle Ogunjimi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kunle-ogunjimi-83337275/

HeadChannel: https://headchannel.co.uk/

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Once an aspiring civil engineer, Katherine Spice’s path has evolved so organically into a leadership journey with purpose.

All of Katherine’s roles have exhibited social impact, and beyond her CTO position at Learnerbly she’s supporting female-founders as an angel investor.

It’s a combination that gives her purpose-driven career a fascinating angle, and it’s a delight to delve further into it as she joins us for episode 12 of Great Software People.

This episode covers:

• Katherine’s jump from civil engineering to software
• The career development from small team work to Head of Development with a team of 17
• A journey with Learnerbly leading to the Angel Investor path
• How we need to balance the shocking lack of funding for female-founded businesses
• Growth outside of the comfort zone, particularly in management roles

Cohaesus Group: https://group.cohaesus.co.uk/
Katherine Spice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-spice/
Learnerbly: https://www.linkedin.com/company/learnerbly/

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With career highlights spanning Co-op, LateRooms and the Eurofighter Typhoon it’s clear to see that Gemma Cameron’s carved an impressive career for herself.

Of all the qualities that she exhibits, however, its being attuned to her wellbeing that’s become paramount as her technical leadership journey has evolved into her role at T5 Digital.

Join us for a fascinating foray through her career, the surprising role of comic strips in achieving buy-in to an idea, and how to spot signs of burnout.

This episode covers:

• Early work on engineering support systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon
• Gemma’s incredible work achieving gender parity in her role at Co-op
• Differing experiences between greenfield startups and established businesses
• Gemma’s experience with burnout in March 2020, the early signs, and what’s aided in her recovery

Cohaesus Group: https://group.cohaesus.co.uk/
Gemma Cameron: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/rubygem