Episode Summary:

In this episode of Automate or Die Trying, host Wil Ramos sits down with Thomas Stiehm, a seasoned technology leader and former CTO at Covaras, with nearly two decades of experience driving DevOps, DevSecOps, and large-scale cloud transformation initiatives.

The conversation explores how Thomas’s early experience during Y2K shaped his perspective on software longevity, risk, and the hidden assumptions in system design. He shares insights from leading global engineering teams, scaling agile practices across distributed organizations, and building high-performance systems that support millions of users.

They discuss DevOps culture, the evolution into DevSecOps, and how organizations can integrate security into fast-moving pipelines without slowing down innovation. Thomas also breaks down how AI and large language models are transforming software development, particularly in automating test creation and improving developer productivity.

The episode closes with Thomas’s perspective on the future of AI in engineering, emphasizing the importance of test automation, security-first thinking, and building confidence to move fast without breaking critical systems.

Key Takeaways:

1. How Y2K shaped modern thinking around system risk and longevity
2. Scaling DevOps and agile across global, distributed teams
3. Integrating security into DevSecOps without slowing delivery
4. Using AI and LLMs to accelerate testing and development
5. Why test automation is critical for speed and reliability

Connect with Thomas Stiehm:

1. LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stiehm

Listen Now & Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or find us wherever you get your podcasts.

Powered by cybersecurityprivacy.com

Automate or Die Trying empowers leaders to adopt AI securely, move faster with confidence, and transform the future of work.