The Summit Series

The Summit Series

By Kris OwensBusinessCareers
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The Summit Series episodes

  • The journey from corporate life to startups - Jacqueline Hasler, CFO, TRIBE

    Join Kris and Dan as they chat with Jacqueline Hasler, Chief Financial Officer at TRIBE.

    With a foundation built in professional services and a seven-year stint at REA Group, Jacqueline shares her unique perspective on transitioning from corporate to startup life.

    In this engaging conversation, Jacqueline opens up about her evolution as a leader, moving from a perfectionist mindset to embracing empathetic leadership. She discusses the realities of scaling businesses, the importance of building high-performing teams, and how asking the right questions can transform company culture.

    With candid insights on being a CFO in the startup world, Jacqueline breaks down common misconceptions about the role and shares how she enables business growth by truly understanding team needs and strategic goals. She also provides a glimpse into TRIBE's exciting work in revolutionizing content creation at scale.
    Timestamps:
    00:00 Introduction and Discussion of REA Alumni

    07:35 Exploring Career Transitions and Motivations

    08:05 Early Experiences and Shaping Leadership Style

    12:07 Transition from Consulting to Listed Companies

    20:51 Advice for Career Direction and Decision-Making

    25:53 Assessing Values and Culture in Organizations

    33:02 Focus on Making a Positive Impact and Improving the Team

    36:12 The Power of Collaboration and Different Work Styles

    38:06 Qualities of a Great Leader and Advice for Future Leaders

    41:55 The Journey of Becoming a Leader and Leading with Empathy

    45:17 Learning Leadership through Tough Situations

    47:21 Success in Leadership and the Importance of People

    49:57 Unleashing the Talent in People through Development and Opportunities

    53:37 The Importance of Collaboration and Input in Leadership

    57:03 Navigating the Challenges of Startups and the Power of Context

    01:02:24 Balancing Constraints and Enabling Ideas in Leadership

    01:05:46 Harnessing the Power of Employees as Creators

    01:10:46 Tribe: Content at Scale and the Future of Creative Marketing

    Interested in leveling up your skills in technology? Contact Dan for coaching inquiries. https://velocifire.com/

    1 hr 10 min
  • How AI is transforming construction - Aaron Vanston , CTO at Buildpass

    Join Kris and Dan as they chat with Aaron Vanston, Co-founder and CTO of BuildPass, a construction tech company that's shaking up the industry. Aaron shares his journey of starting a tech company without a traditional background in construction or computer science, highlighting the power of diverse experiences and adaptability.


    He talks about how he and his co-founder have been able to build and win over 300 customers in just three years.

    In this candid conversation, Aaron opens up about some of the challenges of being a Co-founder, balancing multiple roles, and the importance of building a strong support system. He discusses how actively listening to customer feedback and quickly implementing solutions has been key to BuildPass's success.
    Aaron also dives into the exciting world of AI in construction, sharing his vision for how it can enhance efficiency and safety on sites without replacing human expertise. His approach to AI - cautious yet optimistic - offers valuable insights for anyone interested in the future of technology in traditional industries.
    "It's not about replacing humans with AI, but enabling them to do more and do it better"
    Introduction and Areas of Discussion
    00:44 Starting BuildPass and the Inspiration Behind It
    03:49 Choosing Construction Tech as a Focus
    06:05 Customer Focus and Rapid Product Development
    08:41 The Importance of Customer Feedback
    11:44 Surprises and Challenges of Being a Co-founder and CTO
    19:05 Aaron's Non-Traditional Background and Thriving in the Startup Environment
    24:44 Balancing Responsibilities as a CTO and Involvement in Marketing
    26:13 The Constant Battle of Prioritization
    27:03 Building a Team for Scalability
    28:01 The Importance of Flexibility and Adaptability
    29:15 Being Open and Transparent with Customers
    30:04 Having a Clear Vision and Being Reactive to Change
    35:41 Flexibility and Accommodation in the Construction Industry
    57:26 Balancing AI and User Experience
    01:02:29 Maintaining Customer Centricity
    01:09:50 Future Enhancements with AI
    01:12:43 Embracing AI and Redefining Roles
    01:20:49 Expanding Overseas and Diversifying
    Hire the best people in technology - https://www.linkedin.com/in/krisowens/
    Interested in leveling up your skills in technology? Contact Dan for coaching inquiries. https://velocifire.com/

    1 hr 17 min
  • Leadership, Gen AI and the future of work - Alana Brittain, Linkedin

    Join Kris and Dan as they chat with Alana Brittain, The Head of Enterprise Sales Solutions at LinkedIn.

    Alana shares a candid story about a tough leadership lesson, showing how important genuine connection and a strong culture are. This story will resonate with anyone who’s felt the pressure of a new role or struggled to balance work and personal life.
    Alana also talks about the future of work and how AI is changing things. Tune in for a down-to-earth conversation about the opportunities and challenges of AI and how we can use it while staying true to our human values.
    "You do yourself a disservice when you try to disconnect your personal life with your business life."
    "It doesn't matter what you believe yourself to be. What matters is how that shows up to other people and how you impact them and their experience of you."
    Timestamps:
    00:00 - Early Experiences and Leadership Failure
    03:17- The Importance of Establishing True Connections in Leadership
    07:39 - The Value of Hiring Outside of Specific Industries
    10:03 - Tips for Businesses and Candidates in the Job Market
    28:28 - The Disruptive Potential of Generative AI
    34:30 - Enhancing Human Connection and Personalization with Gen AI
    35:29 - Using Generative AI to Summarize Large Amounts of Data
    41:19 - Navigating the Remote Work vs. Hybrid Work Debate
    49:07 - Showcasing Skills and Communicating Career Goals in a Remote Work environment
    Hire the best in tech - https://www.imminently.co/nova
    Interested in leveling up your skills in technology? Contact Dan for coaching inquiries. https://velocifire.com/

    53 min
  • Unlocking the potential of your Engineering team - Jamie Simonsen

    In this episode, Kris and Dan welcome Jamie Simonsen, a seasoned technology leader with a fascinating background in engineering and leadership. Jamie shares his unconventional self-taught journey to becoming a VP of Engineering, emphasizing the value of hands-on experience, continuous learning, and a problem-solving mindset in his career development.

    Whether you're an aspiring technology leader, a startup founder, or simply passionate about the intersection of engineering and leadership, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and practical insights from Jamie's unique perspective.

    1 hr 12 min
  • Startups - the good, the bad and the ugly - Kunal Madhav

    Kris and Dan welcome Kunal Madhav, a CTO and co-founder of Med Tribe, to share his insights on leadership, startup dynamics, and the truth behind working in startups. Kunal discusses how his early career experiences, both positive and negative, have shaped his approach to management and his commitment to fostering trust and open communication within teams.

    Throughout the conversation, Kunal shares valuable advice for engineers considering a move from corporate to startup environments, emphasizing the importance of adaptability, problem-solving, and a willingness to take on new challenges.

    1 hr 16 min
  • Leading with empathy - Theresa Neate

    Join Kris and Dan as they sit down with Theresa Neate, the Director of Engineering at Buildkite, to dive into her journey in technology leadership. Theresa shares her unique experiences, from growing up in apartheid South Africa to becoming a prominent tech leader.

    In this episode, Theresa discusses the impact of her early life on her leadership style, her approach to mentoring and coaching, and the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. She also touches on balancing innovation with managing technical debt and the significance of autonomy in leadership.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 - Introductions and background

    01:50 - Early experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa
    06:20 - Transition from South Africa to the US
    10:46 - How to get the best out of Theresa
    12:20 - The importance of being yourself as a leader
    18:26 - Story about her amazing mother's influence
    20:32 - Theresa's love for computing
    22:01 - Finding more women in technology
    29:26 - Diversity in leadership and what we can do to help
    36:48 - How to stand out in this market
    42:35 - Approach to building great teams
    47:35 - Innovation vs tech debt and ways of working
    51:29 -The book that changed Theresa's approach

    54 min
  • How to master the interview process - Damian Fasciani

    Join Kris and Joel as they sit down with Damian Fasciani, the VP, Product & Engineering at Expert 360, to dive deep into his journey in technology leadership. Damian shares his experiences working across various industries, the key principles that guide his decision-making when joining a company, and the challenges of building and leading teams in a remote work environment.


    Damian also discusses his upcoming book, "Harmonizing Humanity in Systems," which chronicles his experiences in building highly engaged and successful technology teams.


    Timestamps:


    00:00 - Introductions and Background

    03:07 - Damien's Varied Career in Technology

    11:37 - Criteria for Choosing Companies

    12:37 - Leadership and Technology Investment

    13:46 - Interviewing Companies

    15:47 - Background Research and Network Checks

    22:19 - Damien's Approach to Interviewing and Assessing Candidates

    29:57 - Strategies for Remote Team Building and Engagement

    41:43 - The Challenges of Virtual Communication and Collaboration

    49:11 - Damien's Upcoming Book, "Harmonizing Humanity in Systems


    1 hr 2 min
  • Making the transition into leadership - A CTO's guide to making the move

    Kris Owens is the Founder of Nova and a tech Recruiter. Dan Harper is a Tech Career coach at Velocifire and a CTO at Homes.com.au. Joel Nation is the CoFounder and CTO of both Imminently and Decisively. Kris Owens is the Founder of Nova and a tech Recruiter.

    The conversation explores the importance of engineers transitioning into leadership roles and their challenges in dealing with people. Dan Harper shares his experience of helping engineers become effective leaders and the need for engineers to develop people skills alongside technical skills. They discuss the mindset shift required to move from individual contribution to team leadership and the rewards of seeing the impact of building and leading a team. They also touch on the signs to look for in identifying potential leaders and the importance of communication and mentoring in developing leadership skills.
    They also highlight the importance of being opinionated and having strong opinions, but also being willing to admit when you're wrong and pivot. They discuss the role of leaders in creating a culture of open communication and feedback, and the value of robust discussions and diverse perspectives. They also touch on the assessment of soft skills in the hiring process and the ongoing measurement and development of these skills in the workplace.
    "Your effectiveness, your impact as a technical person is capped by how well you deal with people."

    1 hr 4 min
  • Welcome to the Summit Series

    Welcome to the Summit Series Podcast, where we interview top leaders across the technology sector. I’m Kris, a founder and tech recruiter, and alongside amazing co-hosts like Dan Harper and Joel Nation, we’ll share insights, strategies, and tips from the brightest minds in startups, scale-ups, and enterprises. If you’re curious about the world and passionate about learning, this is the show for you. Let’s dive in!

    2 min

About The Summit Series

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to the Summit Series Podcast, where we bring you in-depth interviews with leaders from various fields, including technology, finance, and beyond. Hosted by Kris, our mission is simple: to understand how top professionals think and to gain valuable insights from their experiences.