Software Without Borders

By Andy Hilliard - AcceleranceBusiness Technology Management

Software Without Borders episodes

May 05 Inside Real-World AI Systems (VIDEO)
In this episode of Software Without Borders, hosts Thomas Hilliard and Olivier Pollard sit down with Ben Coffman, SVP of Engineering and Product, to break down how AI is being implemented inside modern software organizations. From computer vision and 3D modeling workflows to large-scale data infrastructure, Ben shares real-world insights on scaling engineering teams, improving system performance, and building AI-driven platforms. This conversation dives into software development, engineering leadership, artificial intelligence, and the strategies teams are using to turn emerging technology into real business results.
Guest Introduction:
Ben Coffman is the SVP of Engineering and Product at STACK Construction Technologies, where he leads high-performing teams at the intersection of software development, product strategy, and business execution. With a background spanning engineering leadership, AI-driven platforms, and large-scale data systems, Ben brings a practical, real-world perspective on how modern software organizations are built and scaled. Known for combining technical depth with strategic thinking, he focuses on improving workflows, accelerating performance, and helping teams turn complex systems into measurable business outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
• How AI is actually being deployed inside real software systems, not just discussed in theory
• What it takes to scale engineering teams from early-stage builds to complex, high-performance platforms
• How computer vision, 3D modeling, and data infrastructure are shaping the future of software development
• The mindset leaders need to successfully implement AI and adapt to constant technological change
• Why improving system speed and performance is critical when building AI-driven platforms
• How modern engineering teams are turning emerging technology into measurable business results
• What separates teams that successfully build AI systems from those that get stuck in experimentation
• How early curiosity in technology can shape a career in engineering leadership and innovation
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Introduction to the Show
00:45 – Ben’s Background and Leadership Experience
01:10 – How Did Your Career in Technology Begin?
03:00 – What Shaped Your Professional Journey?
05:00 – What Drew You to Software and Engineering?
07:00 – Early Inspiration: Thinking About the Future of Technology
09:00 – Transitioning from Interest to Real-World Systems
11:30 – What Does It Take to Build Real Software Systems?
14:00 – How Is AI Actually Implemented in Production?
17:00 – Where AI Fits in Modern Software Architecture
20:00 – Challenges of Integrating AI into Existing Systems
23:00 – How Do You Scale Engineering Teams Effectively?
26:00 – Improving Speed, Performance, and Output
29:00 – Leadership Lessons from Scaling Complex Systems
32:00 – How Do You Drive Real Business Results with Technology?
35:00 – The Mindset Required to Lead Through Change
38:00 – What Teams Get Wrong About AI and Innovation
41:00 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI and Software
43:30 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Keywords:
AI, artificial intelligence, software development, software engineering, engineering leadership, AI in production, machine learning, data infrastructure, scalable systems, system architecture, computer vision, 3D modeling, tech leadership, engineering teams, building AI systems
46 min
May 05 Inside Real-World AI Systems (AUDIO)
In this episode of Software Without Borders, hosts Tomas Hilliard and Olivier Poulard sit down with Ben Coffman, SVP of Engineering and Product, to break down how AI is being implemented inside modern software organizations. From computer vision and 3D modeling workflows to large-scale data infrastructure, Ben shares real-world insights on scaling engineering teams, improving system performance, and building AI-driven platforms. This conversation dives into software development, engineering leadership, artificial intelligence, and the strategies teams are using to turn emerging technology into real business results.
Guest Introduction:
Ben Coffman is the SVP of Engineering and Product at STACK Construction Technologies, where he leads high-performing teams at the intersection of software development, product strategy, and business execution. With a background spanning engineering leadership, AI-driven platforms, and large-scale data systems, Ben brings a practical, real-world perspective on how modern software organizations are built and scaled. Known for combining technical depth with strategic thinking, he focuses on improving workflows, accelerating performance, and helping teams turn complex systems into measurable business outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
• How AI is actually being deployed inside real software systems, not just discussed in theory
• What it takes to scale engineering teams from early-stage builds to complex, high-performance platforms
• How computer vision, 3D modeling, and data infrastructure are shaping the future of software development
• The mindset leaders need to successfully implement AI and adapt to constant technological change
• Why improving system speed and performance is critical when building AI-driven platforms
• How modern engineering teams are turning emerging technology into measurable business results
• What separates teams that successfully build AI systems from those that get stuck in experimentation
• How early curiosity in technology can shape a career in engineering leadership and innovation
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Introduction to the Show
00:45 – Ben’s Background and Leadership Experience
01:10 – How Did Your Career in Technology Begin?
03:00 – What Shaped Your Professional Journey?
05:00 – What Drew You to Software and Engineering?
07:00 – Early Inspiration: Thinking About the Future of Technology
09:00 – Transitioning from Interest to Real-World Systems
11:30 – What Does It Take to Build Real Software Systems?
14:00 – How Is AI Actually Implemented in Production?
17:00 – Where AI Fits in Modern Software Architecture
20:00 – Challenges of Integrating AI into Existing Systems
23:00 – How Do You Scale Engineering Teams Effectively?
26:00 – Improving Speed, Performance, and Output
29:00 – Leadership Lessons from Scaling Complex Systems
32:00 – How Do You Drive Real Business Results with Technology?
35:00 – The Mindset Required to Lead Through Change
38:00 – What Teams Get Wrong About AI and Innovation
41:00 – Looking Ahead: The Future of AI and Software
43:30 – Final Thoughts and Takeaways
Keywords:
AI, artificial intelligence, software development, software engineering, engineering leadership, AI in production, machine learning, data infrastructure, scalable systems, system architecture, computer vision, 3D modeling, tech leadership, engineering teams, building AI systems
46 min
May 05Everything Broke at Once: The Shift to AI-Native Organizations (VIDEO)
AI is accelerating software development at a pace most organizations aren’t ready for. In this episode of Software Without Borders, Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at Build, breaks down what happens when code creation becomes nearly free—and why that doesn’t translate to better outcomes. From broken pipelines to misaligned metrics, this conversation explores how AI is forcing leaders to rethink how teams operate, how performance is measured, and what actually drives value.

Duncan shares why judgment and “taste” are becoming the most important skills in engineering, where AI is delivering real impact today, and how companies can avoid the trap of moving faster without moving smarter.
Guest Introduction:
Today’s guest is Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at BuildOps, where he’s helping lead the shift from traditional software companies to AI-native organizations. Duncan has spent his career scaling engineering teams and building high-performance systems, including taking an organization from roughly 30 engineers to over 300 through hypergrowth and IPO.

Beyond his leadership roles, Duncan is known for his deep thinking around engineering, AI, and how companies actually operate under rapid change. He’s focused on how AI is reshaping not just how software gets built, but how teams are structured, how performance is measured, and how businesses create real leverage in this next era of technology.
Key Takeaways:
AI has made code creation fast and cheap, but it has exposed bottlenecks in validation, alignment, and decision-making across teams.
More output does not guarantee better outcomes; organizations must shift from measuring activity to measuring real business impact.
The gap between junior and senior engineers is shrinking, which puts greater emphasis on judgment, context, and decision quality.
The biggest breakdowns are not technical—they come from misaligned metrics and lack of coordination between leadership, product, and engineering.
Companies that win with AI will focus on integrating it into systems that drive core business results, not just using it to increase speed or volume.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro & Guest Introduction
02:30 – Why AI Is Breaking Traditional Software Models
05:00 – The First Bottleneck: From Code to Production
08:30 – Why More Output Doesn’t Mean Better Results
10:00 – Rethinking Teams, Roles, and Headcount
11:30 – Where AI Is Actually Delivering Value
13:30 – The Gap Between Prototype and Production
15:00 – Where Companies Are Getting AI Wrong
18:30 – The Real Challenge: Organizational Alignment
21:30 – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
Keywords:
AI, artificial intelligence, software development, engineering leadership, AI tools, machine learning, software engineering, product development, tech leadership, startups, scaling teams, automation, developer productivity, SaaS, digital transformation
47 min
May 05 Everything Broke at Once: The Shift to AI-Native Organizations (AUDIO)
AI is accelerating software development at a pace most organizations aren’t ready for. In this episode of Software Without Borders, Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at Build, breaks down what happens when code creation becomes nearly free—and why that doesn’t translate to better outcomes. From broken pipelines to misaligned metrics, this conversation explores how AI is forcing leaders to rethink how teams operate, how performance is measured, and what actually drives value.
Duncan shares why judgment and “taste” are becoming the most important skills in engineering, where AI is delivering real impact today, and how companies can avoid the trap of moving faster without moving smarter.
Guest Introduction:
Today’s guest is Duncan Grazier, Chief AI Officer at BuildOps, where he’s helping lead the shift from traditional software companies to AI-native organizations. Duncan has spent his career scaling engineering teams and building high-performance systems, including taking an organization from roughly 30 engineers to over 300 through hypergrowth and IPO.
Beyond his leadership roles, Duncan is known for his deep thinking around engineering, AI, and how companies actually operate under rapid change. He’s focused on how AI is reshaping not just how software gets built, but how teams are structured, how performance is measured, and how businesses create real leverage in this next era of technology.
Key Takeaways:
• AI has made code creation fast and cheap, but it has exposed bottlenecks in validation, alignment, and decision-making across teams.
• More output does not guarantee better outcomes; organizations must shift from measuring activity to measuring real business impact.
• The gap between junior and senior engineers is shrinking, which puts greater emphasis on judgment, context, and decision quality.
• The biggest breakdowns are not technical—they come from misaligned metrics and lack of coordination between leadership, product, and engineering.
• Companies that win with AI will focus on integrating it into systems that drive core business results, not just using it to increase speed or volume.
Chapter Markers:
00:00 – Intro & Guest Introduction
02:30 – Why AI Is Breaking Traditional Software Models
05:00 – The First Bottleneck: From Code to Production
08:30 – Why More Output Doesn’t Mean Better Results
10:00 – Rethinking Teams, Roles, and Headcount
11:30 – Where AI Is Actually Delivering Value
13:30 – The Gap Between Prototype and Production
15:00 – Where Companies Are Getting AI Wrong
18:30 – The Real Challenge: Organizational Alignment
21:30 – Final Thoughts & Key Takeaways
Keywords:
AI, artificial intelligence, software development, engineering leadership, AI tools, machine learning, software engineering, product development, tech leadership, startups, scaling teams, automation, developer productivity, SaaS, digital transformation
47 min
February 09Infrastructure, Innovation & the Story Behind SXSW’s Growth (VIDEO)
In this episode of Software Without Borders, Andy and Tomás sit down with Justin Bankston, CTO of South by Southwest (SXSW), to explore the remarkable evolution of one of the world’s most influential cultural and technology events. Justin shares his journey from playing in rock bands and reviewing demo CDs to leading the software, IT, and innovation groups that power SXSW’s massive annual footprint. We dig into the behind-the-scenes engineering challenges, the explosive impact of Twitter’s 2007 debut at SXSW, and the technical coordination required to support tens of thousands of attendees across multiple venues. Justin reflects on leadership, scaling teams, and what it takes to deliver a flawless experience when failure becomes instantly public. If you’ve ever wondered how innovation, culture, and infrastructure collide at global scale, this episode pulls the curtain back.

Guest Introduction:
Justin Bankston is the Chief Technology Officer at South by Southwest, where he has spent nearly 20 years shaping the technical backbone of one of the world’s premier events in music, film, and technology. From his early days as a full-stack developer to leading SXSW’s software, IT, and innovation teams, Justin has guided the organization through explosive growth, digital transformation, and cultural shifts — all while ensuring the attendee experience remains seamless and world-class.

Key Takeaways:
SXSW’s uniqueness creates massive technical complexity. Three industries, three conferences, one seamless attendee experience.
Justin’s journey was entirely organic. From musician → volunteer reviewer → contractor → leader → CTO.
Twitter’s 2007 debut changed SXSW forever. Attendance spiked, expectations shifted, and technical resilience became paramount.
Custom software was born from necessity. When SXSW started, no event platform could handle its hybrid creative/tech experience.
Invisible infrastructure is intentional. If the Wi-Fi isn’t perfect, attendees notice — and complain loudly.
Remote and global teams helped SXSW scale sustainably. Nearshore partners expanded engineering capacity without sacrificing collaboration.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 — Andy welcomes listeners to Software Without Borders
01:12 — Guest introduction: Justin Bankston, CTO of SXSW
03:18 — Justin’s backstory: bands, demo CDs, and first touchpoints with SXSW
04:16 — Contracting beginnings and early software challenges
07:58 — The unique blend of artist, audience, corporate, and technical needs
08:35 — How SXSW grew organically — and fast
10:32 — Leadership lessons from early career mentors
11:32 — The uniqueness of SXSW vs. other global festivals
13:13 — Stakeholder alignment and balancing competing priorities
14:57 — Inside SXSW’s custom software ecosystem
15:49 — The complexity of event IT & multi-venue Wi-Fi at scale
17:57 — The stakes of real-time attendee experience
18:58 — PanelPicker: the origin story
22:16 — Twitter’s SXSW launch and the ripple effects
24:14 — Strengthening infrastructure amid explosive growth
26:34 — Beginning remote/global engineering partnerships
29:26 — Process, communication, and the reality of global development
31:00 — How remote teams support SXSW’s “lights-on” needs

Keywords:
Software Without Borders, SXSW, Justin Bankston, Andy Hilliard, Tomás Hilliard, Accelerance, event technology, global engineering teams, festival tech infrastructure, Twitter SXSW launch, custom software development, nearshore engineering, CTO insights, large-scale event operations.
51 min
February 09Infrastructure, Innovation & the Story Behind SXSW’s Growth (AUDIO)
In this episode of Software Without Borders, Andy and Tomás sit down with Justin Bankston, CTO of South by Southwest (SXSW), to explore the remarkable evolution of one of the world’s most influential cultural and technology events. Justin shares his journey from playing in rock bands and reviewing demo CDs to leading the software, IT, and innovation groups that power SXSW’s massive annual footprint. We dig into the behind-the-scenes engineering challenges, the explosive impact of Twitter’s 2007 debut at SXSW, and the technical coordination required to support tens of thousands of attendees across multiple venues. Justin reflects on leadership, scaling teams, and what it takes to deliver a flawless experience when failure becomes instantly public. If you’ve ever wondered how innovation, culture, and infrastructure collide at global scale, this episode pulls the curtain back.

Guest Introduction:
Justin Bankston is the Chief Technology Officer at South by Southwest, where he has spent nearly 20 years shaping the technical backbone of one of the world’s premier events in music, film, and technology. From his early days as a full-stack developer to leading SXSW’s software, IT, and innovation teams, Justin has guided the organization through explosive growth, digital transformation, and cultural shifts — all while ensuring the attendee experience remains seamless and world-class.

Key Takeaways:
SXSW’s uniqueness creates massive technical complexity. Three industries, three conferences, one seamless attendee experience.
Justin’s journey was entirely organic. From musician → volunteer reviewer → contractor → leader → CTO.
Twitter’s 2007 debut changed SXSW forever. Attendance spiked, expectations shifted, and technical resilience became paramount.
Custom software was born from necessity. When SXSW started, no event platform could handle its hybrid creative/tech experience.
Invisible infrastructure is intentional. If the Wi-Fi isn’t perfect, attendees notice — and complain loudly.
Remote and global teams helped SXSW scale sustainably. Nearshore partners expanded engineering capacity without sacrificing collaboration.

Chapter Markers:
00:00 — Andy welcomes listeners to Software Without Borders
01:12 — Guest introduction: Justin Bankston, CTO of SXSW
03:18 — Justin’s backstory: bands, demo CDs, and first touchpoints with SXSW
04:16 — Contracting beginnings and early software challenges
07:58 — The unique blend of artist, audience, corporate, and technical needs
08:35 — How SXSW grew organically — and fast
10:32 — Leadership lessons from early career mentors
11:32 — The uniqueness of SXSW vs. other global festivals
13:13 — Stakeholder alignment and balancing competing priorities
14:57 — Inside SXSW’s custom software ecosystem
15:49 — The complexity of event IT & multi-venue Wi-Fi at scale
17:57 — The stakes of real-time attendee experience
18:58 — PanelPicker: the origin story
22:16 — Twitter’s SXSW launch and the ripple effects
24:14 — Strengthening infrastructure amid explosive growth
26:34 — Beginning remote/global engineering partnerships
29:26 — Process, communication, and the reality of global development
31:00 — How remote teams support SXSW’s “lights-on” needs

Keywords:
Software Without Borders, SXSW, Justin Bankston, Andy Hilliard, Tomás Hilliard, Accelerance, event technology, global engineering teams, festival tech infrastructure, Twitter SXSW launch, custom software development, nearshore engineering, CTO insights, large-scale event operations.
51 min
January 05#39 Building High-Trust Engineering Teams in a Global World
Episode Description:
In this episode of Software Without Borders, Andy and Scott sit down with Steve Petersen, a veteran software architect and engineering leader known for building collaborative, high-trust technical teams across global environments. Steve shares the lessons he’s learned from decades of experience—coding, mentoring, scaling engineering orgs, and navigating the cultural and communication challenges that come with distributed teams.

Guest Introduction:
Steve Petersen is a seasoned software architect, engineering leader, and mentor with deep experience designing scalable systems and guiding teams through growth and transformation. Known for his calm leadership style, technical clarity, and focus on people-first engineering cultures, Steve has spent his career helping developers elevate their craft while strengthening communication and trust across globally distributed organizations.
Key Takeaways:
Communication is the real bottleneck, not code. Highly distributed teams succeed when they over-communicate clearly and consistently.
Pairing senior and junior engineers is a force multiplier, accelerating learning for both sides and strengthening team cohesion.
Humility makes great engineers—those willing to ask questions, seek clarity, and challenge assumptions collaboratively.
Technical leadership is not about having all the answers, but about creating a space where the best ideas surface.
Avoiding unnecessary complexity leads to higher velocity and more maintainable systems.
Global engineering teams thrive on structure, predictable rhythms, and clear expectations that support asynchronous work.

Chapter Markers:
0:00 Welcome to Software Without Borders
0:21 Introducing Steve Petersen
1:13 Steve’s Background & Early Career Path
2:46 Technical Leadership vs. Individual Contribution
4:05 How Engineering Teams Break Down Communication
5:32 The Power of Pairing Senior & Junior Engineers
7:01 What Makes an Engineer Truly Great
8:44 Curiosity, Humility & Asking the Right Questions
10:12 Reducing Complexity for Better Outcomes
12:09 Leading Distributed Engineering Teams
14:03 Building Predictable Rhythms & Expectations
15:58 Technical Debt vs. Necessary Complexity
17:30 Creating a Culture Where Engineers Feel Safe Speaking Up
19:03 What Steve Looks for When Hiring Developers
21:18 Why Mentorship Accelerates Team Growth
22:40 When to Step Back as a Technical Leader
24:11 Coaching Engineers Through Hard Problems
26:05 Final Thoughts & What Steve Wishes He Knew Earlier
End: Closing Remarks
Keywords:
Software Without Borders, Andy Hilliard, Scott Pollov, Steve Petersen, engineering leadership, software architecture, distributed engineering teams, global teams, technical mentorship, engineering culture, communication in engineering, technical debt, software development leadership, scaling teams
47 min
January 05#39 Building High-Trust Engineering Teams in a Global World
Episode Description:
In this episode of Software Without Borders, Andy and Scott sit down with Steve Petersen, a veteran software architect and engineering leader known for building collaborative, high-trust technical teams across global environments. Steve shares the lessons he’s learned from decades of experience—coding, mentoring, scaling engineering orgs, and navigating the cultural and communication challenges that come with distributed teams.

Guest Introduction:
Steve Petersen is a seasoned software architect, engineering leader, and mentor with deep experience designing scalable systems and guiding teams through growth and transformation. Known for his calm leadership style, technical clarity, and focus on people-first engineering cultures, Steve has spent his career helping developers elevate their craft while strengthening communication and trust across globally distributed organizations.
Key Takeaways:
Communication is the real bottleneck, not code. Highly distributed teams succeed when they over-communicate clearly and consistently.
Pairing senior and junior engineers is a force multiplier, accelerating learning for both sides and strengthening team cohesion.
Humility makes great engineers—those willing to ask questions, seek clarity, and challenge assumptions collaboratively.
Technical leadership is not about having all the answers, but about creating a space where the best ideas surface.
Avoiding unnecessary complexity leads to higher velocity and more maintainable systems.
Global engineering teams thrive on structure, predictable rhythms, and clear expectations that support asynchronous work.

Chapter Markers:
0:00 Welcome to Software Without Borders
0:21 Introducing Steve Petersen
1:13 Steve’s Background & Early Career Path
2:46 Technical Leadership vs. Individual Contribution
4:05 How Engineering Teams Break Down Communication
5:32 The Power of Pairing Senior & Junior Engineers
7:01 What Makes an Engineer Truly Great
8:44 Curiosity, Humility & Asking the Right Questions
10:12 Reducing Complexity for Better Outcomes
12:09 Leading Distributed Engineering Teams
14:03 Building Predictable Rhythms & Expectations
15:58 Technical Debt vs. Necessary Complexity
17:30 Creating a Culture Where Engineers Feel Safe Speaking Up
19:03 What Steve Looks for When Hiring Developers
21:18 Why Mentorship Accelerates Team Growth
22:40 When to Step Back as a Technical Leader
24:11 Coaching Engineers Through Hard Problems
26:05 Final Thoughts & What Steve Wishes He Knew Earlier
End: Closing Remarks
Keywords:
Software Without Borders, Andy Hilliard, Scott Pollov, Steve Petersen, engineering leadership, software architecture, distributed engineering teams, global teams, technical mentorship, engineering culture, communication in engineering, technical debt, software development leadership, scaling teams
47 min
December 22, 2025#38 Creating Alignment in Times of Chaos
In this episode of Software Without Borders, we sit down with Joe Forgét—founder of Igniting Momentum and a leader who has lived through mergers, global team integrations, and the uncomfortable-but-necessary transitions that define high-growth companies. Joe breaks down what really happens when organizations hit those inflection points: culture drift, misalignment, operational chaos, and the quiet pressure founders and leaders carry while trying to scale.
Guest Introduction:
Joe Forgét is the founder of Igniting Momentum, a leadership and operations coach who helps growing companies rebuild clarity, alignment, and execution discipline. With deep experience leading global teams through mergers, restructures, and rapid scale, Joe blends operating system rigor with human-centered leadership. His work centers on creating momentum through intentional rhythms, strategic alignment, and practical accountability structures.
Key Takeaways:
Companies often realize they need help when they hit the moment Joe calls: “The business owns me now.”
Momentum comes from structured operating rhythms — not heroic effort.
Frameworks like EOS, Pinnacle, and System & Soul provide scaffolding, but must be tailored to each organization.
Early-stage founders may not need full frameworks yet, but scale-ups absolutely do.
Mergers & acquisitions create cultural collisions; alignment must come before acceleration.
Empowerment only works when role clarity and accountability structures are in place.
Progress must be viewed through “the gap and the gain,” recognizing wins instead of only missing pieces.
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Welcome back to Software Without Borders
0:23 Introducing guest Joe Forgét
2:17 Joe’s discovery of coaching
4:11 The Ignition Framework (Align → Activate → Accelerate)
6:22 EOS, Pinnacle, System & Soul explained
8:04 Coaching in fast-growth organizations
9:47 The moment leaders realize the business owns them
11:35 Measuring early momentum
15:51 The Gap and the Gain mindset
17:02 People-first additions in newer operating frameworks
20:03 Why implementation must be customized
23:35 Cultural blending in mergers
26:58 Choosing between scale, exit, or reinvention
30:25 Post-inflection indicators that help is needed
33:12 Role clarity as empowerment
35:05 Why coaches need their own coaches
End: Closing insights and wrap-up
Keywords:
Software Without Borders, Andy Hilliard, Scott Pollov, Joe Forget, Igniting Momentum, leadership coaching, operating rhythms, EOS, System and Soul, business scaling, mergers and acquisitions, organizational alignment, executive coaching, leadership frameworks, global team leadership
53 min
December 22, 2025#38 Creating Alignment in Times of Chaos
In this episode of Software Without Borders, we sit down with Joe Forgét—founder of Igniting Momentum and a leader who has lived through mergers, global team integrations, and the uncomfortable-but-necessary transitions that define high-growth companies. Joe breaks down what really happens when organizations hit those inflection points: culture drift, misalignment, operational chaos, and the quiet pressure founders and leaders carry while trying to scale.
Guest Introduction:
Joe Forgét is the founder of Igniting Momentum, a leadership and operations coach who helps growing companies rebuild clarity, alignment, and execution discipline. With deep experience leading global teams through mergers, restructures, and rapid scale, Joe blends operating system rigor with human-centered leadership. His work centers on creating momentum through intentional rhythms, strategic alignment, and practical accountability structures.
Key Takeaways:
Companies often realize they need help when they hit the moment Joe calls: “The business owns me now.”
Momentum comes from structured operating rhythms — not heroic effort.
Frameworks like EOS, Pinnacle, and System & Soul provide scaffolding, but must be tailored to each organization.
Early-stage founders may not need full frameworks yet, but scale-ups absolutely do.
Mergers & acquisitions create cultural collisions; alignment must come before acceleration.
Empowerment only works when role clarity and accountability structures are in place.
Progress must be viewed through “the gap and the gain,” recognizing wins instead of only missing pieces.
Chapter Markers:
0:00 Welcome back to Software Without Borders
0:23 Introducing guest Joe Forgét
2:17 Joe’s discovery of coaching
4:11 The Ignition Framework (Align → Activate → Accelerate)
6:22 EOS, Pinnacle, System & Soul explained
8:04 Coaching in fast-growth organizations
9:47 The moment leaders realize the business owns them
11:35 Measuring early momentum
15:51 The Gap and the Gain mindset
17:02 People-first additions in newer operating frameworks
20:03 Why implementation must be customized
23:35 Cultural blending in mergers
26:58 Choosing between scale, exit, or reinvention
30:25 Post-inflection indicators that help is needed
33:12 Role clarity as empowerment
35:05 Why coaches need their own coaches
End: Closing insights and wrap-up
Keywords:
Software Without Borders, Andy Hilliard, Scott Pollov, Joe Forget, Igniting Momentum, leadership coaching, operating rhythms, EOS, System and Soul, business scaling, mergers and acquisitions, organizational alignment, executive coaching, leadership frameworks, global team leadership
53 min

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Software Without Borders is the essential listen for technology leaders and business owners in the software sector who crave insights from the industry’s top minds. Picture a relaxed, coffee-driven…

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Software Without Borders

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About Software Without Borders