(05:46) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with ⁠⁠Swimm⁠⁠.Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Feeling uneasy about how your personal data is used, and wondering if companies are doing enough to protect it?

In this episode, Katharine Jarmul, author of “Practical Data Privacy,” dives deep into one of the most critical and rapidly evolving topics today. Discover how data privacy impacts you as a user and what organizations should be doing to protect your information responsibly. Learn why simply blaming users isn’t the answer and how we can build a more trustworthy technological future.

Key topics discussed:

• Understanding Data Privacy: The meaning of data privacy and how it links to autonomy, trust, and choice
• More Than Just PII: The full scope of sensitive data needing protection
• The “Spying” Phone Feeling: How too much data collection can be used to infer sensitive details
• Organizational Responsibility: Shifting data protection burden from users to companies building and deploying technology
• Privacy by Design: Embedding privacy into tech right from the start
• Essential Data Governance: Why knowing your data is key to privacy
• Practical Privacy Techniques: Pseudonymization, anonymization, data masking, and more
• Privacy Enhancing Technologies: Exploring tools like differential privacy, federated learning, and encrypted computation
• AI & Privacy Challenges: Using AI responsibly with sensitive information
• Navigating Privacy Laws: Understanding GDPR, data sovereignty, and global regulations
• Building a Privacy Culture: Fostering a culture of learning, psychological safety, and risk awareness around privacy

Tune in to learn how we can build a safer, more responsible, and trustworthy digital future for everyone.  

Timestamps:

• (00:00) Trailer & Intro
• (01:20) Career Turning Points
• (02:14) Data Privacy Landscape
• (07:45) PII (Personally Identifiable Information)
• (11:33) Data Privacy Risk in Current Technologies
• (14:13) Data Utility vs Privacy
• (19:01) Privacy by Design
• (24:19) Data Governance
• (29:06) Retention Schedule
• (31:10) Data Privacy Practices & Techniques
• (34:09) Privacy Enhancing Technologies
• (38:52) Fostering Data Privacy Practice & Culture
• (47:05) The Legal Aspects of Data Privacy
• (51:10) AI and Data Privacy
• (56:08) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Katharine Jarmul’s Bio
Katharine Jarmul is a Principal Data Scientist at Thoughtworks Germany and author of the recent O’Reilly book Practical Data Privacy . Previously, she has held numerous roles at large companies and startups in the US and Germany, implementing data processing and machine learning systems with a focus on reliability, testability, privacy and security.

She is a passionate and internationally recognized data scientist, programmer, and lecturer. Katharine is also a frequent keynote speaker at international software and AI conferences.

Follow Katharine:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/katharinejarmul
• Newsletter – https://probablyprivate.com
• YouTube – @ProbablyPrivate
• 📚 Practical Data Privacy: Enhancing Privacy and Security in Data – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/practical-data-privacy/9781098129453/

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/216.
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(04:07) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with ⁠Swimm⁠.Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Are too many meetings killing your productivity and making your team less effective?
Discover a new approach to work where meetings are no longer the default and deep work takes the center stage.

In this episode, Sumeet Moghe, the author of the “Async-First Playbook”, shares actionable insights on building high-performing teams through async-first approach.

Key topics discussed:

• The real reasons behind the return-to-office trend, and why remote and async work are far from dead
• How async-first companies like GitLab, Shopify, and Automattic operate, and why it’s not an all-or-nothing approach
• Surprising survey findings: Why most people want to work remotely, and how meetings and interruptions are damaging productivity
• The async-first mindset: Making meetings the last resort, prioritizing written communication, and defining reasonable response lags
• The ConveRel Quadrants: A framework for deciding when to meet based on relationship strength and meeting purpose
• Inclusion as a first-class responsibility: How async work empowers introverts, non-native speakers, parents, and diverse team members
• The “default to action” principle: How teams can move faster by embracing reversible decisions and reducing bottlenecks
• Async-first leadership: Building trust, modeling the right behaviors, and creating systems that replace performative busyness
• Practical tips for better business writing and reading, plus how AI tools can supercharge your communication
• The future of work: Why top talent will continue to demand autonomy, and how AI and fractional work are shaping new collaboration models

Tune in to discover how to build high-performing, effective and inclusive teams with fewer meetings by adopting async-first.  

Timestamps:

• (00:00) Trailer & Intro
• (02:19) Career Turning Points
• (06:21) The Return to Office Trend
• (11:36) Companies Embracing Async-First
• (13:20) People’s Working Style Preference
• (17:37) What is Async-First?
• (21:39) Team Handbook and Ways of Working
• (23:24) The ConveRel Quadrants
• (27:41) Inclusion as a First-Class Responsibility
• (32:14) Defaulting to Action
• (35:50) Async-First Leadership
• (40:38) Being Good in Written Communication
• (44:35) AI Usage in Written Communication
• (46:17) Time to Read and Reading Comprehension
• (51:14) The Future of Work
• (58:33) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Sumeet Moghe’s Bio
Sumeet Gayathri Moghe is an Agile enthusiast, product manager, and design nerd at Thoughtworks. Sumeet has recently authored The Async-First Playbook. His practical recommendations for effective collaboration within remote and distributed teams stand for what he’s learned from his colleagues, their successes, and their occasional misadventures.

Sumeet kicked off “The async-first manifesto” , a set of principles he is co-creating with volunteer enthusiasts from around the world. He is also bringing async-work to life with stories of “Humans of remote work” .

Follow Sumeet:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/sumeetmoghe
• Website – asyncagile.org
• 📚 Async-First Playbook – https://informit.com/async
• Use the code "MOGHE" to get 35% off

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/215.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

(03:59) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm.
Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.
Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Stop fearing Friday and late-night deployments!
Discover how the most painful part of software development—deploying to production—can become routine, safe, and even boring.

In this episode, I sit down with Valentina Servile (ThoughtWorks lead developer and author of “Continuous Deployment”) to discuss the principles, practices, and mindset shift required to achieve true Continuous Deployment.

Key topics discussed:

• The key differences between Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, and Continuous Deployment
• Why “if it hurts, do it more often” is the secret to safer, faster releases
• Applying Lean principles like one-piece flow and reducing batch size for higher quality and speed
• The importance of removing the final manual deployment gate and automating everything
• Essential minimum practices: robust automated testing, feature flags, static analysis, and zero-downtime deployments
• Separating deployment from release with feature flags and expand/contract patterns
• Overcoming challenges in regulated industries, technical hurdles, and third-party integrations
• The critical mindset shift: treating production as a first-class citizen and embracing “shift left” for quality and security
• Cautions and advice on using AI tools in a continuous deployment workflow

Tune in to level up your software delivery and learn how to make deployments so routine that you’ll never dread another release.  

Timestamps:

• (02:00) Career Turning Points
• (06:05) Tips for Juniors Starting Their Careers
• (08:00) Continuous Deployment Book
• (10:16) Definitions of CI, CD, Continuous Deployment
• (15:42) If It Hurts, Do It More Often
• (19:18) Why Remove The Final Manual Gate to Production
• (24:56) Common Challenges in Adopting Continuous Deployment
• (30:02) Minimum Practices for Continuous Deployment
• (35:17) Hiding Work-in-Progress
• (38:46) The Difference Between Deployment vs Release
• (41:40) Slicing the Work
• (45:10) Coordinating Changes Between Systems & Third Parties
• (47:58) The Importance of Backward Compatibility
• (50:05) The Required Mindset Shift
• (53:16) AI Caution in Continuous Deployment
• (55:35) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Valentina Servile’s Bio
Valentina Servile is a full-stack software craftswoman and Lead Software Developer at Thoughtworks.

She has worked with over a dozen companies in 5 different countries, ranging from start-up to enterprise scale. Her work has been focused on clean code, distributed systems and microservices, CI/CD practices, and evolutionary architectures in a variety of tech stacks. As a technical lead, she also coordinates delivery, and ensures a shared vision around ways of working and technical health in her cross-functional teams.

Valentina is passionate about creating an engineering baseline of clean code, testing and automation as the the most fundamental enabler of Agile, Lean and DevOps principles.

Follow Valentina:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/valentina-servile
• Bluesky – @valentinaservile.bsky.social
• 📚 Continuous Deployment – https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/continuous-deployment/9781098146719/

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/214.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

(05:57) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm.
Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.
Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Are we looking at software engineering the wrong way?
What if it’s less about writing code and more about making better decisions in an ever-changing system?

Learn a revolutionary approach to understanding complex software systems in my conversation with Tudor Girba, the CEO of feenk. We explore “Moldable Development,” a groundbreaking concept that challenges traditional views of software engineering. Learn why treating development as a decision-making process, supported by custom tools, is crucial for tackling today’s software challenges, especially when dealing with legacy systems.

Key topics discussed:

• Software Engineering as Decision-Making: Why software development is fundamentally about making informed decisions rather than just constructing systems.
• The Inefficiency of Reading Code: Developers spend over 50% of their time reading code, yet this activity remains unoptimized.
• Moldable Development: Learn how creating custom tools tailored to specific problems can revolutionize your workflow and decision-making process.
• Legacy Systems as Opportunities: Reframe legacy systems as value-creation opportunities instead of burdens.
• Glamorous Toolkit: Discover the innovative development environment enabling thousands of micro-tools for better system understanding.
• The Future of Development Environments: Explore how AI, moldable development, and tools like Glamorous Toolkit can coexist to solve diverse class of problems.

This conversation will completely transform how you think about software development!  

Timestamps:

• (00:01:57) Career Turning Points
• (00:08:29) Understanding How We Read Code
• (00:10:43) Software Engineering is a Decision-Making Activity
• (00:13:19) Reading Code is a Suboptimal Activity
• (00:16:44) Moldable Development
• (00:22:47) The Challenges with Legacy Systems
• (00:30:17) Moldable Development Workflow
• (00:46:02) Glamorous Toolkit
• (00:54:15) IDE, AI, and Glamorous Toolkit
• (01:00:36) Writing with Simon Wardley
• (01:03:01) 1 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Tudor Girba’s Bio
Tudor Girba is the CEO of feenk, a company focused on modernizing legacy systems. They do that through Moldable Development, a way of programming through contextual tools. They build Glamorous Toolkit, a free and open-source moldable development environment, to show how working through thousands of contextual tools per system can be practical. In 2014, Tudor received the prestigious Dahl-Nygaard Junior Prize for his work on modeling and visualisation of evolution and interplay of large numbers of objects.

Follow Tudor:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/girba
• Bluesky – bsky.app/profile/tudorgirba.com
• X – x.com/girba
• feenk – feenk.com
• Glamorous Toolkit – gtoolkit.com
• 📝 Rewilding Software Engineering – medium.com/feenk/rewilding-software-engineering-900ca95ebc8c

_____

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/213.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

(07:40) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm.
Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.
Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

What if everything you’ve been taught about software architecture is fundamentally at odds with how the real world works?

Dive into my conversation with Barry O’Reilly, a veteran architect and former Chief Architect at Microsoft, as we explore a radical rethinking of software architecture that embraces uncertainty and complexity. Discover how to design systems that survive in an ever-changing world.

Key topics discussed:

• The Architect’s Paradox: Why rigid logic fails when applied to human systems and business complexity.
• The Failures of Traditional Architecture: Why requirements engineering and rigid models often fall short.
• Residuality Theory: A revolutionary approach focused on how systems collapse and adapt over time.
• Correctness vs. Criticality: Designing architectures that survive off-spec scenarios rather than aiming for perfection.
• Philosophy in Architecture: Unpacking hidden “default” philosophies that shape how we build software–and why they need to change.
• Essential Mindset for Architects: Humility, pessimism, and embracing uncertainty as tools for success.  

Whether you’re a developer, architect, or business stakeholder, this episode will challenge your assumptions and inspire new ways of thinking about software architecture.

Timestamps:

• (02:00) Career Turning Points
• (10:02) The Architect’s Paradox
• (15:54) Barry’s Definition of Architecture
• (20:24) The Challenges of Time and Change
• (24:09) The Danger of Software Abstractions
• (29:41) Understanding Our Architecture Philosophy
• (37:05) Residue as the Unit of Software Architecture
• (46:31) Practical Way of Applying Residuality
• (49:03) The Goal of Architecture is Criticality
• (52:17) Bridging the Gap Between Architecture and Stakeholders
• (55:09) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Barry O’Reilly’s Bio
Barry is a veteran Architect who has held Chief Architect positions at Microsoft among others. He has also been a startup CTO, the Worldwide Lead for the Solutions Architecture Community at Microsoft, and founder of the Swedish Azure User Group. He is also a PhD candidate in software design and complexity science.

Barry is a regular speaker at international conferences and events, where he shares his insights and expertise. He is the Founder of Black Tulip Technology and the creator of Residuality Theory, which seeks to redefine architecture as the management of complexity.

Follow Barry:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/barry-o-reilly-b924657/
• 📚 The Architect’s Paradox – leanpub.com/architectsparadox
• 📚 Residues: Time, Change, and Uncertainty in Software Architecture – leanpub.com/residuality
• 📚 Book bundle – leanpub.com/b/residues

_____

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/212.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

(03:43) Brought to you by Swimm.io.

⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm.
Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.
Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the rapid pace of technological change?
How do you not just survive, but thrive through decades of major changes in the tech industry?

With 42 years experiencing the tech industry’s biggest transformations, Paula Paul (Distinguished Engineer, Technical Advisor, OpenJS Foundation Board Member) has seen it all. Hear her hard-won lessons on navigating massive technology shifts, from mainframes to modern AI and cloud. This episode explores why embracing change and building a healthy relationship with technology are crucial for a fulfilling career.

Key topics discussed:

• Insights from a 42+ year career spanning mainframes, CAD, the web, cloud, and AI
• A refreshing perspective on AI: Is it taking jobs away or creating choices?
• Why technology is often the “easy part” compared to managing changes
• How to cultivate a healthier relationship with technology and avoid overwhelm
• Timeless advice for building a successful and fulfilling tech career you love
• Navigating career pivots and embracing a non-linear path (“canvas vs. ladder”)
• The latest challenges of open source software, e.g. licensing and security risks
• Thoughts on diversity, inclusion, and meritocracy in the tech industry

Tune in for practical advice and deep reflections on building resilience, embracing curiosity, and finding your place in the ever-changing world of technology.  

Timestamps:

• (02:10) Career Turning Point
• (05:59) How to Approach AI and Rapid Technology Change
• (07:27) Long Feedback Loop in Software Development
• (10:35) Importance of Building the Right Things
• (13:35) The Fear of AI and Technology Changes
• (16:46) Timeless Tech Career Advice
• (19:34) Navigating Career Decisions
• (23:03) Every Company is a SaaS Company
• (26:22) The Huge Impact of Open Source
• (28:59) Open Source’s Security Challenge
• (31:04) Managing a Healthy JavaScript Ecosystem
• (33:11) Recent Trend of Open Source Licensing Change
• (35:46) Choosing Open Source vs. Commercial Software
• (37:18) Challenges of AI Model Training Based on Open Source
• (41:46) Recent Challenges with DEI Programs
• (45:05) The Value of Diversity
• (47:34) AI as Learning Tool
• (48:46) Creating Healthy Relationship with Technology
• (51:45) Dealing with Tech Anxiety
• (55:03) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Paula Paul’s Bio
Paula is a trusted technical advisor and distinguished engineer who has served as a fractional CTO in multiple organizations. Paula championed API, Identity, and platform strategies as a Distinguished Engineer with ThoughtWorks and led cloud adoptions on AWS, GCP, and Azure through her company, Greyshore. Paula is passionate about Open Source; she has been a multi-year speaker and co-chair of Open Source Day for the Grace Hopper Celebration and currently serves as a board member with the OpenJS Foundation and the Brookline Music School.

Follow Paula:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/paulapaul
• Medium – @paulapaul
• Website – http://greyshore.com

_____

Our Sponsors

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript: techleadjournal.dev/episodes/211.
Follow @techleadjournal on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
Buy me a coffee or become a patron.

(05:29) Brought to you by Swimm.io

⁠⁠⁠⁠Start modernizing your mainframe faster with Swimm.
Understand the what, why, and how of your mainframe code.
Use AI to uncover critical code insights for seamless migration, refactoring, or system replacement.

Tired of API dependencies slowing down your development and testing?

Dive into my conversation with Tom Akehurst, creator of WireMock, and discover the art of using API mocking to build successful software in complex distributed environments.

Key topics discussed:

• The origin story of WireMock, born from integration challenges at Disney
• How WireMock became a leading API mocking tool with millions of monthly downloads
• Insights on building and maintaining successful open-source projects
• The key benefits of API mocking for developer productivity and experience
• The shift from the traditional testing pyramid to a “testing trophy” approach
• Leveraging API mocking for API-first design and rapid prototyping
• The distinction between API mocking and contract testing
• The future of API testing and development in the age of microservices and AI

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out your journey in API development, this episode provides valuable insights into the power of API mocking and the journey of building a successful open-source project.  

Timestamps:

• (02:11) Career Turning Points
• (08:08) WireMock OSS Success Story
• (15:15) Welcoming & Aligning with Contributors
• (18:05) Benefits of WireMock & API Mocking Tools
• (19:59) API Mocking & Testing Pyramid
• (22:05) API Mocking vs Contract Testing
• (25:25) The Economics of API Mocking
• (27:27) API First Design
• (32:32) Impact to the Developer Experience & Productivity
• (35:32) Working More Effectively with Distributed Systems
• (38:15) API Virtualization/Simulation
• (41:13) AI Advancement in API Development
• (44:25) Building API for AI Agents
• (47:25) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Tom Akehurst’s Bio
Tom Akehurst is the creator of WireMock, the open source API mocking tool, which he’s now been working on for well over a decade. Lately he’s also the CTO and co-founder of WireMock, Inc., where he’s helping complex engineering organisations effectively adopt API simulation techniques in order to build better software faster.

Tom has been developing software for over 20 years. He’s built large-scale web systems for media, travel, hospitality, retail and government, applying lean, eXtreme Programming, Continuous Delivery and DevOps principles along the way.

Follow Tom:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/tomakehurst
• Email – [email protected]
• WireMock – wiremock.org

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/210.
Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.
Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

Discover the secrets to early retirement and financial independence from a tech industry veteran!

In this episode, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of Kristine Howard, who transitioned from a dynamic career in tech to a life of early retirement, reaching financial independence and personal fulfillment along the way.

Key topics discussed:

• Learn why tracking your expenses is the key to financial freedom
• Master the balanced money formula for budgeting success
• Uncover smart investing strategies, including the power of index funds and diversification
• Understand how aligning your career with personal values can lead to greater satisfaction
• Learn the “4% rule” and how it can help determine your retirement readiness
• Gain insights into the emotional journey of transitioning to early retirement
• Hear the unexpected benefits of early retirement, including more time for personal growth
• Discover the three keys to staying healthy in retirement: staying active, engaged, and contributing

Whether you’re just starting your career or dreaming of early retirement, don’t miss out on these valuable lessons for achieving financial independence and living life on your own terms!  

Timestamps:

(02:07) Career Turning Points

(07:01) Getting into Early Retirement

(09:16) Financial Independence vs Early Retirement

(10:13) Can We Reach Financial Independence?

(11:56) The Shares/Equity Lever

(15:43) Working in Startups vs Corporates vs Big Tech

(18:34) The Importance of Financial Tracking

(23:36) Building Automation & Doing Periodic Reviews

(29:17) Focus on the Spending Rather than Income

(30:43) Budgeting

(33:12) Trade CapEx for OpEx

(35:36) Saving & Investing

(38:53) On Diversification

(41:17) The Importance of Emergency Fund

(43:12) How Did it Feel Getting Closer to Retirement?

(48:19) The Feeling of Significant Income Drop

(51:01) Things Anyone Can Do Even Before Retirement

(56:00) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Kristine Howard’s Bio
Kristine Howard is an American-Australian residing in Sydney, Australia. Her extensive career features significant roles within technical teams at prominent companies such as Channel 9, Canva, and AWS. She is married to the Snook, and together they share a passion for global travel and culinary exploration. Kristine also expresses her creativity through knitting and sewing, finding joy in crafting handmade items. Notably, she has shared her expertise and insights at over 100 tech meetups, conferences, and events worldwide.

Follow Kristine:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/kristinehoward
• Blog – web-goddess.org

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/209.
Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.
Buy me acoffee or become apatron.

(07:37) Brought to you by Lemon.io

⁠⁠⁠Lemon.io⁠⁠⁠ is your go-to platform for hiring top-tier, pre-vetted software engineers from Europe and Latin America. You'll get matched with your developer in just 48 hours.

Tech Lead Journal listeners get 15% off your first 4 weeks of work at ⁠⁠⁠lemon.io⁠⁠⁠.

Ever wondered what it takes to climb the tech leadership ladder from engineer to executive?

In this episode, we follow the journey of Norman Noble, CTO of Mindvalley, as he shares his insights and experiences navigating these challenging transitions.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• How to successfully transition from an individual contributor to a manager, and ultimately to an executive
• Effective hiring strategies to attract and retain top talent
• Strategies for building high-performing teams, including creating the right team architecture
• Insights into Mindvalley’s unique culture and diversity that foster personal growth and transformation
• The importance of mindfulness and well-being for effective leadership

Timestamps:

(02:06) Career Turning Points

(09:59) Transitioning From an IC to a Manager

(12:10) Learning From Psychology & Management Books

(15:36) Becoming a Better Manager

(17:32) Building High-Performing Teams

(20:23) Hiring Strategy & Philosophy

(24:06) Engineering Interview Strategy

(28:19) Transitioning From a Manager to an Executive

(32:09) Upskilling Across Domains

(36:03) Mindvalley Culture

(38:41) The Power of Diversity

(40:46) Practising Mindfulness

(43:48) Making Space for Thinking

(45:50) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

_____

Norman Noble’s Bio
Norman Noble is the CTO of Mindvalley. He is a people-focused technology leader, lean/agile practitioner and systems thinker. He focuses on strategic outcomes that deliver real value to organisations and their customers, whilst building high-performing technology teams that move quickly and get things done.

Follow Norman:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/normannoble

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

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Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/208.
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Want to communicate more effectively and get your work the attention it deserves?
Learn how to harness the power of storytelling in a business setting with Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, the bestselling author of "Storytelling with Data" and "Storytelling with You"!

In this episode, Cole joins me to dive into the art of storytelling and explore how we can use it to communicate data, insights, and our work more effectively.

You'll learn:
- Storytelling in business: Why it's crucial for making your work stand out.
- The "Plan-Create-Deliver" framework: The 3 steps to creating compelling stories.
- Low-tech planning: Why pen and paper beats jumping straight to slides.
- The power of the "Big Idea": Craft one impactful sentence that captures your message.
- Storytelling with data: Present data that is both informative and engaging.
- Crafting a powerful intro: Grab your audience's attention from the start.
- AI for storytelling: How AI can enhance your data analysis and communication.
- Teaching kids about data: Empower the next generation to be critical thinkers and storytellers.

Timestamps:
(00:02:17) Career Turning Points
(00:06:22) What is Storytelling?
(00:09:55) Why Become Better Storytellers
(00:12:25) Storytelling in Business Settings
(00:15:51) Plan-Create-Deliver Framework
(00:24:01) Low Tech Planning
(00:28:57) The 3-Minute Story and The Big Idea
(00:33:06) TLDR and BLUF
(00:37:09) Creating Slides
(00:41:43) Storytelling with Data
(00:44:39) Pie Charts
(00:46:42) Data Visualization Tools
(00:49:00) Teaching Kids about Data
(00:55:04) Giving a Powerful Intro
(00:59:13) How AI Can Help in Data & Storytelling
(01:02:02) 3 Tech Lead Wisdom

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Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic’s Bio
Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic tells stories with data. She is founder and CEO of storytelling with data (SWD) and author of Storytelling With Data: A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals and Storytelling with Data: Let’s Practice! SWD’s well-regarded workshops and presentations are highly sought after by data-minded individuals, companies, and philanthropic organizations all over the world. Learn more at storytellingwithdata.com.

Follow Cole:

• LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/colenussbaumer
• Website – storytellingwithdata.com
• 📚 Storytelling with Data – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-Data-Visualization-Business-Professionals/dp/1119002257
• 📚 Storytelling with You – https://www.amazon.com/Storytelling-You-Deliver-Stellar-Presentation/dp/1394160305
• 📚 Daphne Draws Data – https://www.daphnedrawsdata.com/
• 🎥 Storytelling with Data YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/c/storytellingwithdata

_____

Our Sponsors

Enjoy an exceptional developer experience with JetBrains. Whatever programming language and technology you use, JetBrains IDEs provide the tools you need to go beyond simple code editing and excel as a developer.
Check out FREE coding software options and special offers on jetbrains.com/store/#discounts.
Make it happen. With code.

Manning Publications is a premier publisher of technical books on computer and software development topics for both experienced developers and new learners alike. Manning prides itself on being independently owned and operated, and for paving the way for innovative initiatives, such as early access book content and protection-free PDF formats that are now industry standard.

Get a 40% discount for Tech Lead Journal listeners by using the code techlead24 for all products in all formats.

Like this episode?
Show notes & transcript:techleadjournal.dev/episodes/207.
Follow @techleadjournal onLinkedIn,Twitter, andInstagram.
Buy me acoffee or become apatron.