In this episode of Tech Waka, host Jakub Jurkiewicz sits down with Ruth McDavitt, CEO of Summer of Tech — the platform that’s been helping thousands of students transition into paid tech internships across New Zealand since 2006.

Ruth shares the story behind Summer of Tech’s founding, the evolution of the program beyond just code and Wellington, and why internships are still essential for both students and companies — especially in the age of AI and economic uncertainty.

We discuss:

• ​What companies gain from hosting interns
• ​How AI is disrupting junior hiring — and where opportunities still lie
• ​Tips for students to stand out and land roles
• ​The role of mentorship in developing future tech leaders

Whether you’re hiring, mentoring, or just curious about the future of NZ’s tech workforce, this episode is full of insight and inspiration.

This episode was kindly sponsored by Wires Uncrossed.

Shadow AI is already in your organization — but can you see it?

In this special Tech Waka episode, we share a live recording from a recent Tech Waka Leadership Collective meetup featuring Ben Mosier, a strategy teaming consultant who helps leaders align around complex challenges.

Ben takes us deep into the world of Shadow AI — the unsanctioned, often invisible use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT inside organizations. You’ll also hear directly from meetup participants as they weigh in on:

• Why copy-paste AI use is not human judgment

• Where Shadow AI poses real risk to your brand, systems, and customers

• The legal and ethical gray areas many teams are sleepwalking into

• How to map your organization’s value chain to identify where human oversight matters most

• The surprising pressure to automate — and why resisting it is leadership

This is not your typical panel or interview. It’s a real-time, thoughtful community conversation — and part of our ongoing effort to make Tech Waka more dynamic, relevant, and grounded in real-world challenges NZ tech leaders face.

🎧 Listen in — and ask yourself: Where is AI making decisions in your org without anyone noticing?

Big thanks to Wired Uncrossed for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode of Tech Waka, we sit down with Joshua Arnold, a seasoned product and technology leader who’s worked across the UK, Europe, and New Zealand. Joshua dives deep into the concept of Cost of Delay and how it can transform the way we prioritize work — not just for efficiency, but for impact.

We explore:

• The CD3 method: Cost of Delay divided by Duration

• Why most teams overestimate effort and underestimate value

• Lessons from Maersk, Pearson, and Kiwi financial services

• The reverse Anna Karenina effect in broken software teams

• How GenAI is accelerating product discovery and prototyping

If you’re in product, engineering, or tech leadership — or you’re just tired of shipping features no one needs — this episode is for you.

This episode is sponsored by Wires Uncrossed — helping teams across New Zealand, Australia, and beyond untangle software delivery and build systems that truly perform.

What do high-performing engineering teams really need to thrive?

In this episode, I talk with Myles Henaghan, Managing Director at Wires Uncrossed and former GM of Engineering at Xero. Myles shares the backstory and structure of the Hierarchy of Engineering Needs — an open-source framework inspired by Maslow’s pyramid and grounded in real-world delivery challenges. We unpack how this model helps tech leaders identify systemic bottlenecks, enable effective ownership, and make smarter strategic trade-offs.

Whether you’re leading one team or many, this conversation will give you a fresh lens for diagnosing delivery constraints and unlocking flow.

🔗 Explore the model: engineeringneeds.io

In this episode of the Tech Waka Podcast, host Jakub sits down with Clarissa Côrtes Pires, Decision Science Capability Lead at Mercury NZ, to explore the intersection of science, creativity, and strategy. With a PhD in innovation management and a career spanning academia, startups, and large enterprises, Clarissa shares her journey into decision science, her experience leading a team of brilliant minds, and what it takes to turn complex research into actionable business outcomes.

You’ll hear about:

• Why innovation is more than just good ideas — it’s about impact.

• The difference between data science and decision science.

• How to manage PhDs and researchers in commercial environments.

• Career paths in decision science — and why everyone can be a scientist.

Whether you’re a tech leader, a data geek, or just AI-curious, this episode will inspire you to think differently about how decisions are made — and how teams can thrive at the edge of research and real-world impact.

The Career Journey Framework mentioned in the episode.

In this episode of Tech Waka, we talk with Saif Ali, Engineering Manager at Gentrack, about his fascinating transition from developer to people leader across cultures and continents.

Saif shares honest reflections on the challenges of early leadership, the power of mentorship, and why listening is a superpower in tech management. He also offers practical advice for aspiring engineering managers and insights on supporting teams through change. This is a must-listen for anyone curious about what leadership in tech really looks like—beyond the job title.

In this episode, Brad Terpstra shares his fascinating journey from managing IT for American Magic during the America's Cup in Auckland to leading tech initiatives at Halter, an ag-tech startup transforming agriculture.

Brad discusses the reality behind the cutting-edge technology of America's Cup racing, emphasizing the importance of precision, strategic decision-making, and continuous improvement. He reflects on how crisis moments—like saving a sinking race boat—can strengthen teams and reveals insights into effective prioritization and managing innovation within resource constraints.

It's a a must-listen for tech leaders who value teamwork, innovation, and making every second count.

Leadership in tech is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. In this episode, we introduce the Tech Waka Mentoring Program—a 5-month journey connecting aspiring tech leaders with world-class mentors. Learn why mentorship is a game-changer, what you’ll gain from the program, and how to apply.

🎧 Spots are limited—tune in now and take the next step in your leadership journey!

👉 https://www.techwaka.co.nz/mentorship

Join Jakub as he celebrates 20 episodes of the Tech Waka podcast, reflecting on milestones, guest insights, and plans for 2025.

In this episode of the Tech Waka Podcast, I sit down with Annie Vella, Distinguished Engineer at Westpac, to explore the intersection of systems thinking, technical leadership, and the transformative impact of AI on software engineering. Annie shares how systems shape outcomes, the evolving role of AI coding assistants, and what it all means for the future of engineering.