In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Chris Dean, CEO and founder of Treasury Prime, about his unconventional journey from academia to the tech startup world. Chris shares insights on the importance of embracing failure, the dynamics of building effective teams, and the challenges of leading in the fast-paced tech landscape. They discuss the impact of AI on software development and FinTech, the complexities of legacy banking systems, and the significance of maintaining a sustainable work culture. Chris emphasizes the value of choosing the right people and problems in tech leadership, offering practical advice for navigating the evolving industry.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Andy James, CTO of Stead Impact Ventures, about his extensive career in technology and the evolving landscape of software development. They discuss the importance of leadership, collaboration between product and engineering teams, and the impact of AI on the future of tech roles. Andy shares insights from the Founders Symposium aimed at building innovators and leaders, and emphasizes the need for authenticity and core values in tech leadership.

David Funck, Chief Technology Officer at Avaya, joins Software Leaders Uncensored with host Steve Taplin to share his remarkable journey from professional actor to technology executive. With decades of experience building and scaling enterprise communication systems, David has led teams through M&A deals, global product rollouts, and massive digital transformation. In this conversation, he opens up about Avaya’s next-gen contact center platform, Infinity, and how AI is reshaping the way humans and machines collaborate. From leading 900+ engineers worldwide to simplifying legacy systems and learning when to let go, David delivers real-world lessons on leadership, focus, and future-proofing enterprise software.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Gajus Kuizinas, co-founder and CTO of Contra, a unique talent marketplace that eliminates commission fees. Gajus shares his unconventional career journey from an arts background to the tech industry, detailing the innovative technology choices at Contra and the challenges faced in the evolving landscape of AI. He introduces the concept of Loom-Driven Development, discusses the implications of vibe coding, and offers insights on growth hacking and the importance of maintaining a long-term vision in entrepreneurship. Gajus emphasizes the need for tech leaders to navigate expectations and stay true to their core principles while building their companies.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Todd Albert, VP of Engineering at CYPHER Learning. They discuss Todd's unconventional career path, the importance of learning from failures, and the impact of AI on job recruitment and engineering processes. Todd shares insights on managing a remote engineering team, balancing priorities in software development, and the challenges faced in generative AI projects. He emphasizes the significance of networking and having a clear vision in entrepreneurship, along with the necessity of saying no to maintain focus and effectiveness as a leader.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Vernon O'Donnell, CEO of Voxel, about his career journey, the mission of Voxel in enhancing workplace safety through AI and computer vision, and the challenges faced in the tech industry. Vernon shares insights on the importance of customer-centric leadership, the evolution of AI, and the lessons learned throughout his career. He emphasizes the need for trust in one's instincts as a leader and the significance of adapting to market changes.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Tom Cook, CPTO at LegitScript. They discuss Tom's career journey from engineer to CPTO, the importance of aligning product and engineering teams, and the challenges of managing remote teams. Tom shares insights on navigating the complexities of AI implementation and the current challenges tech leaders face. He emphasizes the need for a customer-centric approach and the significance of understanding unique data positions in today's tech landscape.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Michel Floyd, a fractional CTO, about her career journey, the transition from a full-time to a fractional role, and the challenges faced by tech leaders today. They discuss the importance of MVPs, the impact of AI on software development, and the necessity of curiosity and adaptability in a rapidly changing tech landscape.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Ihab Rimawi, CEO and founder of My-Fi.AI, about his journey in technology and the founding of his current venture. They discuss the importance of personalized investment strategies, the challenges of data sourcing, and the dynamics of remote team collaboration. Ihab shares insights on work culture, the significance of focusing on processes over technology, and valuable lessons learned throughout his career.

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Marlon Misra, CEO and co-founder of Assembly. They discuss Marlon's journey from product management to entrepreneurship, the insights gained from Y Combinator, and the evolution of Assembly as a platform for professional service firms. Marlon shares valuable lessons learned from his early ventures, the importance of client interactions, and the recent launch of their AI assistant. The conversation also touches on work culture, the challenges of the tech landscape, and advice for today's tech leaders.