How does the future hold for software development with remote collaboration?

In this episode of the Distributed podcast, host Jack Hannah chats with Tim Ottinger, aka the Agile Otter, about how to manage and organize the work. Among other things, Tim is a Senior Consultant at Industrial Logic, contributor to the book Clean Code, and active presence online. Jack and Tim explore various ways to work in teams instead of solo and the various benefits they offer.

Highlights:

• Rethinking solo work to boost first-time through rates and productivity 
• Tim’s experiences with Extreme Programming and Agile 
• Introducing swarm boards  for better remote teamwork 

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) – Introduction to Tim Ottinger, Agile Otter

(01:11) – Tim’s background and contributions to clean code and agile

(01:46) – Early remote work and why covid changed remote training

(04:03) – Benefits of spreading training over weeks vs. intense sessions

(06:18) – What’s wrong with how most software teams manage work today

(10:42) – The problems with solo work, parallelism, and utilization myths

(14:14) – How AI can help coding but still has limitations

(18:07) – Why increasing first time through rate is the key metric

(24:18) – How to structure teams to avoid queues and handoffs with swarm boards

(30:50) – Starting with small experiments to work together and improve flow

(33:12) – Don’t lower the standards of the pipeline, raise the abilities of the team

(40:07) – When it comes to remote work, longitude kills and latitude hurts

(41:38) – Tim’s advice for making the most out of remote work

(44:05) – The law of the 2nd floor

(44:51) – Things can be better, don’t lose hope

References

Swarm Programming with the Swarm Board

Clean Code by Robert C. Martin

Where to connect further:

Connect with Tim Ottinger on LinkedIn and on his website

Connect with Industrial Logic

Follow Tuple

Want to hear more? Check out distributed.fm

Connect with Jack Hannah

In this episode of The Standup, we sit down with Oren Greenberg, growth marketing advisor and founding partner at Kurve, who has helped teams at every stage navigate complexity and scale smarter. 



He shares how conflicting incentives between teams can quietly stall progress, and why misaligned KPIs are usually a symptom of a deeper strategic disconnect at the top. With stories from the field and sharp observations, Oren talks about practical ways leaders can rebuild trust, set clearer goals, and make collaboration feel less like a turf war. Finally, Oren shares sound advice about the evolution of artificial intelligence and why leaders should stay cautious.

What you’ll learn:

• How to build KPI alignment without losing team autonomy
• Why strategic clarity at the C-suite level drives better collaboration
• The real reason AI adoption stalls and how to respond with realism

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Why personal brand is reshaping how companies build influence

(01:01) What truly motivates your team and how to spot the difference

(01:54) How misaligned KPIs quietly sabotage growth

(02:48) When physical office layouts create invisible barriers

(04:42) A proven method for aligning KPIs across departments

(06:37) Why sales-led and marketing-led cultures clash

(07:40) Common traits of top-performing leaders

(08:49) Where AI is actually improving marketing workflows today

(09:55) What most AI tools get wrong and how to train your team wisely

(11:05) A career mistake that taught the danger of borrowed platforms

(12:06) Mindset shifts for B2B leaders

(14:51) What we learned from Oren

Resources:

• Connect with Oren
• Kurve Website
• Connect with Yael

For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

In this episode of The Standup, we’re joined by David Hanrahan, SVP of People Success at SolarWinds, who brings over 15 years of leadership experience in high-growth tech companies like Eventbrite, Niantic, and Twitter. David’s deep expertise in HR leadership, employee experience, and organizational design offers invaluable insights on building culture in fast-scaling environments.

He explains the importance of fostering a thriving workplace as companies grow and scale, explaining how leaders can balance the values that matter most during periods of change. From navigating divergent cultures across teams to the evolving role of HR, David shares strategies for leaders to stay connected with their teams while pushing for meaningful performance.

Plus, he reflects on a personal failure that taught him the power of collective ownership and how leaders can create sustainable change without forcing their vision on others.



What you’ll learn:

• How to scale company culture without losing core values
• Why leaders should spend time outside of their teams to stay ahead of potential issues
• The key question to ask when leading through change and uncertainty

Things to listen for:

(00:00) How curiosity drives leadership success

(01:13) Building and scaling company culture at large organizations

(03:15) Convergence vs. divergence in company culture

(04:31) The importance of skip-level meetings in understanding company culture

(05:04) Pros and cons of flattening hierarchical structures

(07:04) Diversity, equity, and inclusion in building a strong, unified culture

(08:49) Embracing cultural differences while staying true to core values

(10:36) The importance of listening and seeking diverse perspectives

(11:23) A failure in driving change at Twitter — and the lesson learned

(14:01) The role of AI in leadership development and talent assessment

Resources:

• Connect with David
• SolarWinds Website
• Connect with Yael

For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

In this episode of The Standup, we’re joined by Andreas Welsch - an executive, former VP, and now Chief AI Strategist at The Intelligence Briefing - who’s spent his career helping organizations bridge the gap between technology hype and business reality.



Andreas has led high-performing teams through change, uncertainty, and the rise of disruptive tech. He gets real about what it takes to foster an AI-ready culture, why clear communication is a non-negotiable, and how leaders can set smarter standards as AI enters the daily workflow.

Plus, he shares a candid failure story that every leader navigating AI projects will want to hear - and a simple question to ask before greenlighting your next big initiative.

What you’ll learn:

• Why clear communication matters more than AI fluency when leading teams
• How to decide when to kill a project (and how to do it without losing trust)
• What it really takes to build an AI-ready culture from the inside out

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Why experimentation with AI tools is a leadership skill

(01:01) The top questions leaders are asking about AI today

(02:15) Why AI rollouts often miss the mark — and how to fix it

(03:36) How to identify where AI can add real value in your workflows

(05:03) Don’t skip the ROI check: Evaluating tools and vendors wisely

(06:26) How to communicate about AI with clarity — and less fear

(08:06) What it means to lead hybrid teams of humans and AI

(11:24) Overhyped vs. underhyped trends in the AI space

(12:42) Andreas shares a failure story — and how it shaped his leadership

(16:11) One thing leaders should stop doing immediately

Resources:

• Connect with Andreas
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

Think you’re not cut out for a career switch? Think again. Changing paths can feel daunting, but it’s possible to bring your strengths with you.

In this episode of The Standup, Devin Reed, Founder of The Reeder, opens up about his own journey from sales to content marketing. He shares how his experience in sales taught him the power of accountability and how that mindset has shaped his success in marketing. Devin talks about the key skills leaders need when transitioning to a new role, from staying curious to mastering the art of listening. He also gets real about leadership struggles, including how to communicate strategy with the C-suite and set boundaries as a working dad.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to Devin Reed

(02:05) Transferable skills from sales to marketing: Accountability and curiosity

(03:40) Listening and transparency: Key skills for leadership transitions

(05:35) Protecting strategy: Educating others and staying focused

(07:50) Communicating strategy effectively with the C-suite

(10:00) The challenges of balancing work and family life

(13:25) Audience growth: The key focus for marketing teams this year

(14:36) Budgeting and measuring success: Efficiency and creativity

(16:02) The importance of documented strategies and playbook

Resources:

• Connect with Devin
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

How do you make sure your messages actually land?

In this episode of The Standup, Joanne Frankel, Head of Internal Communications at Amdocs, explores the real challenges leaders face in cutting through noise and building trust.



Drawing from years of experience, Joanne shares why clear, authentic messaging is a leader’s greatest asset and how internal comms should be a strategic force, not just a service function. She also calls out a critical leadership blind spot: assuming a message was understood just because it was delivered.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Joanne Frankel

(01:46) Communicating with clarity: Cutting through noise

(03:33) Why authenticity matters: Trust and leadership

(06:02) Women in leadership: Strength in authenticity

(08:58) Redefining internal comms: Strategy over service

(10:30) Leadership mistakes: Assumptions in communication

(14:46) Key takeaways: Authenticity, transparency, and trust

Resources:

• Connect with Joanne
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

How do you develop a high-performing team?

In this episode of The Standup, Russell Scherwin, a seasoned go-to-market leader and Facilitator at Force Management, breaks down the formula behind building and sustaining effective teams. 

Drawing from years of experience as a CRO, CMO, and investor, Russell shares why the key isn’t just hiring great people—it’s structuring the right processes, defining clear outcomes, and hiring those with unteachable qualities. He also gets real about leadership pitfalls, from the dangers of unconscious competence to the overlooked struggles of balancing work and family as a high-level executive.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to Russell Scherwin

(01:53) Structuring high-performing teams: Outcomes, process, and metrics

(03:07) Go-to-market strategy: Balancing process, skills, and roles

(05:43) Leading through ambiguity: Defining mission clarity

(09:22) Leadership mistakes: Unconscious competence and lack of clarity

(12:01) The overlooked struggles of working dads in leadership

(14:20) Balancing passion, priorities, and leadership integrity

Resources:

• Connect with Russell
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

What happens when you embrace your authentic self at work?

In this episode of The Standup, global marketing leader Cynthia Kleinbaum, Co-founder of the A LA LATINA Network, shares how staying true to her identity and flipping biases into strengths has shaped her success. From her journey as a Latina in corporate America to fostering environments where employees thrive, Cynthia dives into actionable tips for impactful leadership. Discover why “leading like a mom” can be the ultimate leadership superpower and learn her Barometer Method—a simple framework for creating honest, open team communication.

Listen in for practical advice on empowering your team, overcoming biases, and redefining leadership.

What you’ll learn: 

• Bringing your true self to work builds trust and drives better results
• Leading with care creates environments where teams thrive and feel valued
• Traits often seen as weaknesses—like passion or kindness—are actually leadership advantages 

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introduction to Cynthia Kleinbaum

(01:26) Realizing authenticity as a strength: Humor in the workplace

(03:13) Owning identity: The impact of being a Latina leader

(07:31) Leading like a mom: Empathy meets accountability

(09:18) The Barometer Method: Checking in with your team

(11:07) Breaking down workplace barriers for authentic leadership

(14:44) Advice for leaders on navigating biases and cultural expectations

(17:24) Cynthia’s favorite resources and habits for success

Resources:

• Connect with Cynthia
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights

Think you’re not ready for that leadership role? Think again. Self-doubt might be holding you back, but it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.

In this episode of The Standup, Katy McFee shares how she overcame imposter syndrome and her insecurities to build a thriving career—and help others do the same. As the founder and CEO of Insights to Action, Katy offers advice to help leaders build confidence and guide organizations in supporting women and working parents more effectively. Discover how asking for honest feedback, embracing failure, and setting clear boundaries have transformed her career—and just might transform yours.

Things to listen for:

(00:00) Introducing Katy McFee

(00:57) How a lack of representation fuels self-doubt

(04:55) Proving that you’re ready for more senior roles

(08:02) Women’s unique leadership strengths

(09:23) How to support working parents at work

(13:30) Iterate until you find success

Resources:

• Connect with Katy
• Connect with Yael

For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights.

An inspiring goal has the power to unite people, fuel creativity, and drive teams to achieve extraordinary things. 



In this episode of The Standup, we speak with Adam Goldstein, CEO and founder of Archer,  a company building electric aircraft to make urban flight more accessible. Adam shares how a bold, ambitious vision not only attracts top talent but also keeps teams focused and motivated through challenges.

Discover how Archer balances technical precision with creative freedom to create products that are both efficient and emotionally resonant. Adam also opens up about the importance of camaraderie among executives and why being a CEO doesn’t have to be a lonely role. Adam’s insights offer a roadmap for leaders striving to make their vision a reality.

Things to listen for:

• (00:00) Introducing Adam Goldstein
• (03:17) Designing for efficiency and emotion
• (05:47) Prioritizing “survivability” to get to market faster
• (08:04) How to structure teams for innovation
• (09:22) Hiring and retaining top talent with an ambitious vision
• (11:09) The truth about being a CEO

Resources:

• Connect with Adam
• Connect with Yael
• For more leadership insights and trending news sent to your inbox weekly, subscribe to monday insights.