In this episode, the host engages with Zoe Cunningham, a veteran in technology with over 25 years of experience. Zoe shares insights from her journey starting as a computer programmer to becoming the Managing Director at Softwire. The discussion delves into the importance of investing in a company's culture, emphasizing that it cannot be outsourced and must be prioritized. Zoe outlines her framework for culture building, consisting of five stages: trust and listening, perks, enjoying work, career development, and finding purpose. Additionally, she explains how nurturing a healthy culture can lead to human flourishing and enhanced organizational performance. Zoe also touches upon significant lessons from her career and shares her favorite impactful book, 'Nonviolent Communication.' The episode offers practical advice for tech leaders on fostering an environment where both employees and the organization can thrive.

Links:

- Zoe Cunningham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoefcunningham/

- "Nonviolent Communication" by Marshall B.Rosenberg -  https://www.amazon.com/Nonviolent-Communication-Language-Life-Changing-Relationships/dp/189200528X?tag=sommardahl-20

- "Galvanising the Geeks" by Zoe F Cunningham -  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Galvanising-Geeks-Zoe-F-Cunningham/dp/1838232400?tag=sommardahl-20

- Online Scrum Master Summit - Free virtual conference, June 17-19, 2025 - Register now at onlinescrummastersummit.com

- Digital Lighthouse podcast - host Zoe Cunningham https://open.spotify.com/show/62QzW96OGsMnVVn8hvI2g2?si=-DkUjxAbTxCeF2pWUrAWEA&nd=1&dlsi=f4216713b2bd471d

Timeline:00:00 Introduction and Common Beliefs 00:34 Meet Zoe Cunningham: A Journey in Tech 02:45 Lessons from Experience: Self-Efficacy and Hard Work 04:27 The Importance of Learning and Communication 07:31 Confessions and Mistakes in Leadership 10:39 Investing in Culture for Human Flourishing 13:41 The Win-Win Approach to Leadership 16:57 The Broader Impact of Investing in People 20:26 Exploring the Complexity of Human Truth 20:47 Surface-Level Reasons for Actions 21:35 The Challenge of Being Too Busy 22:44 Emotional Barriers to Building Culture 24:13 Framework for Building Culture 24:19 Stage One: Trust and Listening 27:12 Stage Two: Perks and Their Impact 29:17 Stage Three: Enjoying Work 31:33 Stage Four: Career Development and Mastery 34:41 Stage Five: Finding Purpose 36:20 The Cyclical Nature of Purpose and Leadership 38:14 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Zoe

In this episode, Byron and guest Karl Archuleta discuss the challenges tech leaders face when they transition from being hands-on technologists to leadership roles. They explore the urge to continue coding and its impact on leadership, team dynamics, and personal life. Karl shares insights from his diverse career and emphasizes the importance of delegation, balancing tech skills with leadership responsibilities, and fostering team growth. They also touch on maintaining a technical edge while leading, the significance of accountability, and finding fulfillment in developing people over just solving technical problems.

Links:

Karl Archuleta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-archuleta/

Winning with Accountability by Henry J. Evans -  https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Winning-Accountability-Language-High-Performing-Organizations/dp/0981924204?tag=sommardahl-20

Timeline:

00:00 Balancing Coding and Management 00:34 Introduction to Karl Archuleta 02:02 Karl's Background and Career Journey 03:32 Thrill-Seeking Hobbies 05:11 The Urge to Fix Everything as a Tech Leader 05:42 Impactful Books and Leadership Insights 06:45 The Importance of Accountability 09:15 Challenges in Estimations and Expectations 16:30 Transitioning from Coding to Leadership 25:04 The Journey from Coding to Leadership 26:38 Balancing Technical Contributions and Leadership 26:49 Strategies for Maintaining Technical Involvement 29:14 The Importance of Human Flourishing in Leadership 31:12 Empowering Your Team for Success 42:50 The Value of Pair Programming 45:24 Final Thoughts and Advice for Tech Leaders

In this episode, Jeremy Wright, a tech leader and expert in communication, discusses the importance of creating safe spaces for team members to voice their complaints. Drawing from his experience in AI technology and bilingual communication, Jeremy highlights how giving employees a platform to express frustrations can uncover key areas for improvement, foster emotional engagement, and enhance team collaboration. He shares practical advice, including the use of a 'time to complain' technique in one-on-one meetings and the surprising impacts it can have on team productivity and cohesion. Listen in to learn how embracing complaints can lead to human flourishing and better organizational outcomes.

Links:Guest LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremylwright/

Recommended Book(s):"Growth Levers" by Matt Lerner: https://www.amazon.com/dp/173842622X?tag=sommardahl-20

Other Links Mentioned:Jeremy's Blog and Newsletter: https://quiescent.us/

Timeline:00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:06 Jeremy's Current Projects and AI Innovations 02:43 Book Recommendations and Industry Insights 04:46 Confession Time: Learning from Mistakes 07:25 The Power of Complaints in Team Dynamics 12:05 Practical Techniques for Encouraging Feedback 18:19 Balancing Leadership and Empathy 27:39 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Jeremy

In this episode, the host sits down with Steven Miracle, a solutions architect and expert in integrations and customer enablement, to discuss the importance of viewing development teams as missionaries rather than mercenaries. Steven shares insights from his 20 years of tech experience, emphasizing how connecting teams with end results and client outcomes can transform their motivation and effectiveness. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Steven explores how tech leaders can foster a purpose-driven environment, and the positive impact this can have on both team morale and project success. He offers actionable steps for integrating customer feedback into the development process to promote team flourishing.

Links:

• Stephen Miracle LinkedIn Profile -   https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-miracle/

• "Inspired" by Marty Cagan - https://shorturl.at/h7xGU?Tag=/sommardahl-20

• "Transformed" by Marty Cagan - https://shorturl.at/ShgV6?Tag=/sommardahl-20

• "Loved" by Martina Lauchengco - https://shorturl.at/TVB15?Tag=/sommardahl-20

• "Empowered" by Marty Cagan ,Chris Jones - https://shorturl.at/G7bpF?Tag=/sommardahl-20

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction to Missionaries vs. Mercenaries 00:45 Meet Steven Miracle: Solutions Architect 02:19 Steven's Journey in Tech 03:12 Impactful Books and Ideas 03:55 Confession Time: Embarrassing Mistakes 08:55 Missionaries vs. Mercenaries: A Deep Dive 12:13 Connecting Dev Teams with Clients 14:47 Fostering Team Flourishing 17:36 Challenges and Solutions in Tech Leadership 25:30 Closing Thoughts and Recommendations

In this episode, tech leaders are joined by Anita Kalmane-Boot, a Scrum Master and Agile Coach with a passion for neurodiversity. They discuss the concept of neurodiversity, explaining how different brain functions can influence work dynamics. Anita shares insights on the importance of creating accommodating environments for neurodivergent individuals, offering practical tips for tech leaders to help their teams flourish. The conversation highlights personal stories, potential pitfalls, and actionable advice aimed at fostering an inclusive and productive tech workplace.

Links:

• Anita Kalmane-Boot's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anitakalmane/
• Couples at Work by Jennifer - https://a.co/d/5Zs6Dpf

Timeline:

00:00 Introduction to Neurodivergence 00:54 Meet Anita Kalmane-Boot 01:47 Anita's Background and Passion for Neurodiversity 02:20 Book Recommendations and Personal Insights 05:49 Understanding Neurodiversity 11:06 Challenges and Misconceptions in the Workplace 15:58 Practical Tips for Tech Leaders 18:43 The Importance of Accommodations 21:46 Real-Life Examples and Personal Experiences 32:34 Final Thoughts and Connecting with Anita

In this episode, Byron discusses engineering leadership and human-centered engineering at scale with Dileep Marway, VP of Engineering and Technology at And Digital. Dileep shares insights on enabling transparent career conversations, emphasizing people over technology, and fostering a supportive work culture. He highlights the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in leadership, as well as strategies for promoting human flourishing within tech teams. The conversation delves into career progression frameworks, psychological safety, recruitment practices, and overcoming leadership challenges, offering valuable takeaways for improving team productivity and individual growth.

Links:

• Dileep Marway's LinkedIn Profile - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dileepmarway/
• "Break the Mould" by Tim Roberts - https://amzn.to/4hvMyQ3

Timeline:

00:00 The Importance of Career Conversations 00:39 Introduction to Human-Centered Engineering 00:54 Meet Dilip Marway 02:18 Embarrassing Mistakes as a Tech Leader 03:34 Scaling The Economist's Digital Transformation 05:27 Challenges in People Management 06:20 Promoting Psychological Safety and Team Culture 14:35 Career Progression Framework 30:32 Tips for Tech Leaders 32:29 Recommended Reading and Conclusion