The Technology Leadership Podcast

About the Speaker

Maximilian Werk is head of Engineering at Jina AI, a leading technology company in Germany and Europe. With a background in software engineering and a proven track record of successfuly leading teams, Max brings a wealth of expertise to the field of leadership. Throughout his career, Max has demonstrated exceptional communication skills, making him a highly effective leader.
 
Synopsis

In this episode of The Technology Leadership Podcast,  we are joined by Maximilian Werk, head of Engineering at Jina AI. Max shares his thoughts on the importance of leadership in the space, offering valuable insights and tips for career growth. Max shares his journey from being a software engineer all the way through to becoming head of department. Max emphasises the significance of social intelligence in understanding and effectively communicating with team members as well as building trust and creating a purely collaborative work environment.

Key Takeaways

• When faced with disagreements, it is essential to create a calm and relaxed atmosphere within a team to facilitate productive discussions.
• Making the time to understand the motivations and goals of individual team members can be paramount for collective performance
• Observing how people communicate and interact with each other allows leaders to better assess the dynamics within a team.
• Taking time to self reflect helps you identify areas of improvement within your leadership and communication

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Max
[03:08] Effective communication and conflict resolution in a business setting.
[11:59] Managing upwards in a workplace
[15:27] Leadership, communication, and understanding team members' states
[20:32]  Social intelligence, and project ownership in tech..
[26:14] Career growth and effective work habits.
[31:06] Leadership lessons and time management struggles.

About Georgij

Georgij Georgij Oroschakoff is the Head of Product and IT at Frootss, a digital asset management company based in Vienna. With a background in business development, Georgij brings a unique perspective to his role as a product leader. He believes in the power of problem-solving and simplifying complex issues into manageable tasks. Georgij is passionate about creating open and collaborative environments within cross-functional teams. As a non-functional CTO, he focuses on understanding system architecture and making pragmatic technology decisions. 


Synopsis

In this episode of The Technology Leadership Podcast,  we are joined by Georgij Oroschakoff, head of Product & IT at Froots, A digital asset management company. Georgij shares his insights on product management, the challenges of being a non-functional CTO and the importance of problem-solving in the field. Alongside this, Georgij emphasises the need for clear and concise product strategy, the ability to translate business needs into technical requirements and the importance of collaboration with cross-functional teams.


Key Takeaways

• By grasping the underlying principles of a system, product managers can make technology decisions to solve business problems effectively.
• Empower your teams to make decisions and find solutions on their own accord. This approach fosters a collaborative environment and encourages innovation.
• Before building a product, it is crucial to define the purpose, mission and core values at the centre of the company
• Starting with a large vision and breaking it down into small achievable goals and objectives. This approach coupled with strategic alignment allows the team to focus on the most critical aspects of production.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Georgij
[06:54] Product management and technology leadership.
[16:07] Product development process and infrastructure planning.
[18:27] Agile methodologies and team empowerment as a tech company.
[24:05]  Design thinking workshops and empowering engineers.
[29:43] Involving developers in product roadmapping and decision-making.
[35:06] Tech challenges in 2023 for SaaS companies.

About Thorsten

Thorsten Spieker ,Director of Engineering at Avi Medical,  is a seasoned engineering leader with a strong background in building and empowering engineering teams. With over 10 years of experience in Silicon Valley and Germany, Thorsten has worked with both large companies and startups, honing his skills in software development and product engineering.

Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, Thorsten Spieker, Director of Engineering at Avi Medical discusses the importance of building an empowered engineering culture. Thorsten shares his journey from being a back-end engineer to becoming a director and highlights the differences between Silicon Valley and German-based tech companies. He emphasises the need for engineers to be involved in the entire software development lifecycle and shares his experience transforming Avi's engineering culture.

Key Takeaways

• The importance of execution, building things quickly and shipping them to increase learning cycles.
• Invest in high quality software to avoid future challenges and enable faster development
• Empowering engineers to take responsibility for the success of the company and the software they build
• Recognising the importance of automating processes to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
• Establishing a culture of continuous learning by involving engineers in decision making and promoting a strong feedback loop.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Thorsten
[05:02] Building an empowered engineering culture
[09:04] Engineering values and culture for fast learning and product development
[15:42] Empowering engineering culture and overcoming initial challenges
[21:03]  Prioritising customer needs in a non-tech first company
[26:38] Prioritising technical debt in a startup
[32:044] Engineering culture, product development, and technology trends

About Stefan

Stefan Anca is the co-founder and CTO of Likeminded, a tech startup in the mental health space. Originally from Romania, Stefan has been living in Germany since 2004. He studied computer science and advanced computer science in Bremen. Stefan's career began as an engineer in a small family-owned company, but he soon realised his desire for growth and development. He moved to Berlin, the startup capital of Germany, and started working in startups, specialising in programming mobile applications, before moving on to management level positions.

Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, Stefan Anca, co-founder and CTO at Likeminded, discusses the challenges of raising funding in the tech industry, especially during difficult economic times. He shares his career journey, from studying computer science to working in startups and eventually becoming a people-focused manager. Stefan highlights the success of Likeminded, a mental health tech startup, and how they secured funding by showcasing their unique selling point and market potential. The episode emphasises the importance of understanding user needs and creating a user-friendly platform for accessing mental health services.

Key Takeaways

• The significance of self-awareness, seeking mentorship, and continuously enhancing  skillset as a CTO.
• The success of the tech department relies on a product team with a strong focus on user needs, versatile engineers capable of addressing various aspects, and a deep commitment to the field.
• Likeminded successfully raised funding in a difficult economic climate by showcasing the untapped market for mental health services and demonstrating their growing revenues.
• Evaluate and understand your own skills and identify any gaps that need improvement.
• Seek feedback from mentors and experienced professionals in order to determine the skills necessary to progress in your career.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Stefan
[02:16] Career growth and fundraising for a mental health tech startup
[08:57] Building a digital platform for mental health support.
[14:35] Career growth and success as a CTO
[16:48] evaluating skills for career growth
[30:51] Common pitfalls for young engineering managers.
[37:05] Career growth and management tips for young engineers
[42:51] Mental health and work-life balance in the tech industry

About Scott

Scott Weiss is the Chief Product Officer at XO Life, a leading technology company specialising in healthcare solutions. With a diverse background in design and product management, Scott has worked across the globe in the UK, US, and Germany.

Scott began his career at Apple, where he worked on interface. He then transitioned to Microsoft, where he served as a program manager and worked on products such as Schedule Plus, which eventually became Outlook. Throughout his career, Scott has held leadership positions in design and product at various companies.

Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, Scott Weiss, Chief Product Officer at XO Life shares his interesting career journey, starting from working at Apple and Microsoft to becoming a product leader. He discusses the intersection of design and product, highlighting the importance of understanding user needs and the skills he brings from his design background. Scott also talks about the evolution of XO Life's product, focusing on drug efficacy and providing users with personalised medical records. The episode explores the design sprint approach used by XO Life for rapid iteration and market fit, as well as the benefits of incorporating design in product-focused companies.

Key Takeaways

• Design plays a crucial role in product leadership, as showcased by Scott Weiss's journey from design to Chief Product Officer at XO Life.
• Effective communication and collaboration are vital for building a strong product team and fostering a culture of learning and growth.
• Hiring and mentoring junior talent can be a strategic investment, allowing them to learn from experienced professionals and contribute fresh perspectives.
• Hiring challenges in the current competitive environment require smarter hiring practices and finding candidates who are genuinely passionate about the product.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Scott
[02:26] The career progression from design to product leadership
[08:01] Personalized digital health platform for medication management
[10:37] Product management approaches and design sprints
[23:28] Design sprint process and problem-solving framework.
[32:03] Hiring and evaluating talent in a tech company.
[34:44] Hiring and mentoring junior product managers.

About Katarzyna

Kasia Malolepszy is the Head of Product at Expatrio and a seasoned product professional with a strong background in the German tech industry. With extensive experience in building and leading product teams, Kasia has successfully brought multiple products to market and has a deep understanding of the finance and insurance sectors. Her passion lies in solving real customer problems and driving innovation in the fintech space. Kashia's expertise in communication, analytical skills, and customer-centricity has been instrumental in her career as a product leader. She believes in creating high-performing teams and empowering them to deliver value.


Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, we are joined by Kasia Malolepszy , Head of Product and engineering at Expatrio. Kasia shares her experience in product management and discusses what makes a great product lead. She emphasises the importance of effective communication and active listening, as well as the analytical skills and customer-centricity required for success in product management. Kasia also highlights the significance of collaboration between product managers and engineers in delivering valuable solutions to customers.

Key Takeaways

• Collaboration and effective communication are crucial for product managers. Actively listening to stakeholders and customers, as well as articulating problems clearly, can lead to better solutions and alignment within the team.
• Data analysis and customer centricity are essential skills. Analysing customer data can provide valuable insights and drive innovation in the finance industry, which is in need of disruption.
• Building a strong relationship with engineering teams is vital for product managers. By involving engineers early in the product development process and articulating problems effectively, product managers can leverage the expertise of engineers to find innovative solutions.
• In the first 100 days as a head of product, it is important to observe and understand the organisation, its processes, and the product. Evaluating the skills of team members, analysing product management processes, and optimising the product development life cycle are key steps to drive improvement and success.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Kasia
[02:08] Product management skills and culture
[07:36] Product engineering collaboration and leadership
[12:42] Product management and delivery evaluation
[24:52] Identifying and developing employees strengths
[33:11] Product prioritisation and analysis tools
[48:46] Product management challenges and future trends

About Thomas

Thomas Berszieck is a seasoned product management lead with over eight years of experience in the field. He began his career in consulting and later transitioned to product management by chance. Thomas has a strong background in enterprise companies and has successfully navigated the B2B SaaS industry. Currently, he serves as the Product Management Lead at HeyFlow, a small interactive Flow Builder that enables companies to create conversion funnels without any coding experience.

Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, we are joined by Thomas Berszieck, product management lead at Heyflow. Thomas shares his journey in product management and discusses a pivotal moment in his career that taught him the importance of being hypothesis-driven. He also talks about his role at Heyflow, a small interactive Flow Builder that helps companies build conversion funnels without coding experience. Thomas discusses the challenges he faced in setting up product management processes and building trust within the organisation. He also shares insights on improving onboarding and increasing activation rates.

Key Takeaways

• Through personal experiences, Thomas has come to understand the importance of making wise decisions in product management, as any poor choices made can have long-lasting consequences. This realisation has led him to adopt a more hypothesis-driven approach in his work.
• Placing a strong emphasis on establishing trust and implementing efficient processes enhances product management and improves the way customer problems are addressed.
• To facilitate a smooth onboarding process, Thomas employed the bowling alley framework, which aims to minimise obstacles, define clear objectives, and maximise user engagement.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Thomas
[01:43] A/B Testing and product development lessons
[05:42] Building product management processes
[12:18] Challenges in product leadership
[18:11] Improving your onboarding process and tracking key metrics
[27:41] Implementing OKR's
[41:06] OKR's and their benefits
[46:46] Shortening sprints to improve product delivery

About Catalina

Catalina Turlea is a seasoned technology leader and one of the three co-founders of the mental health startup nilo.health, based in Berlin and Munich, Germany. With over 10 years of experience as a software engineer, Catalina has predominantly worked in startup environments. Her passion lies in driving innovation and creating solutions that address mental health challenges. Catalina is also dedicated to mentoring and supporting aspiring developers, particularly women, in their career journeys.


Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast we are joined by Catalina Turlea, one of the three co-founders of mental health startup nilo.health, based in Berlin and Munich, Germany. Catalina, with over 10 years of experience as a software engineer, shared insights into the success factors behind their startup. She highlighted the importance of timing and how the COVID-19 pandemic created a more receptive market for mental health solutions, breaking down the stigma around mental health. Additionally, Catalina emphasised the critical role of a passionate and motivated team in achieving success, with team members drawn to nilo's mission of removing the stigma from mental health and making support more accessible.


Key Takeaways:

• nilo.health's remarkable journey towards success can be largely attributed to its ability to draw in a team that was not only highly skilled but also incredibly motivated. This team was not confined by homogeneity; instead, it was a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 
•  A critical element in nilo.health's journey was its unwavering commitment to technology that directly and positively impacted its users. Rather than chasing the latest trends in technology for its own sake, the company prioritized solutions that addressed real needs.
• In the ever-evolving landscape of business, startups, must be nimble and adaptable. This readiness to pivot and change direction in response to market shifts is a crucial factor in a company's ability to thrive. 
• nilo.health recognized the immense value of building a team that reflected a diverse array of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. By prioritising diversity in hiring practices, the company achieved more than just a demographic mix; it created a work environment characterised by empathy, support, and open-mindedness.

Episode Outline:

[00:09] Meet Catalina
[01:48] The Challenges within a mental health based startup
[06:58] Product development, tech stack, and operational efficiency
[17:31] Leadership, growth, and team building
[22:24] Balancing technology research with customer value
[25:38] Motivating and hiring diverse tech talent
[37:12] Balancing parenthood and entrepreneurship
[42:33] The significance of work-life balance

About Jeff

Jeff Glasson is an experienced technology leader with a diverse background in enterprise and startup environments. Originally from Silicon Valley, Jeff began his career as an engineering manager at Apple before moving on to serve as the VP of Engineering at VMware and Cloudera. He then relocated to Germany, where he held the position of VP at Contentful before assuming his current role as the CTO of TWAICE, a leading battery analytics software company.


Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, Jeff Glasson, Chief Technology Officer at TWAICE brings a wealth of experience from Silicon Valley, having worked at Apple and VMware before moving to Germany to work at Contentful and now TWAICE. The discussion covers leadership, innovation, and various other topics.

Jeff introduces his work at TWAICE, a battery analytics software company. The company focuses on developing efficient battery systems for mobility and energy storage, while providing real-time analytics to enhance system health and safety. Jeff's role as CTO involves leveraging his enterprise cloud experience to deploy their battery technology as scalable SaaS applications.


Key Takeaways:

• By providing continuous data analysis, TWAICE's analytics solutions enable proactive maintenance, early detection of potential issues, and effective management of battery health and safety.
• Introducing new technologies, such as advanced battery systems, often faces resistance in established companies. Overcoming this resistance requires effective communication and demonstrating the value of the tech.
• Jeff's extensive experience in enterprise cloud technologies allows TWAICE to leverage scalable SaaS applications for deploying their battery technology. This enables the seamless integration of their solutions into existing systems.
• Success in developing and implementing innovative battery solutions relies on building a diverse team with a combination of software expertise and deep knowledge of battery technology. This multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive problem-solving.
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Episode Outline

[00:09] Driving innovation and introducing new technologies in a young startup
[05:27] Leading a team through technical changes and architecture design
[10:06] Fostering a culture of innovation and taking calculated risks
[20:59] Building trust and empowering team members in a startup
[32:05] Leadership, technical expertise, and staying up-to-date in technology
[37:27] Career success factors with a former CTO
[42:19] Leadership, empowerment, and challenges in the tech industry

About Yaniv

Yaniv Preiss is the Head of Engineering at NewStore, a company that works with retail brands worldwide to accelerate their digital transformation. Yaniv has held various roles in testing automation development, DevOps, and management at different startups and corporates. He consults privately to engineering managers and leads the engineering team at NewStore. Yaniv is passionate about management and has established a curriculum to teach managerial topics to engineering managers.

Synopsis

In this episode of the Technology Leadership Podcast, Yaniv Preiss, Head of Engineering at NewStore, discusses his experience in the industry and his passion for engineering management. Yaniv shares how he started his journey in programming and eventually transitioned to management. He highlights the importance of learning management skills and how he mentors other engineering managers through his curriculum.

Key Takeaways

• Skills can be learned no matter where you are in your career.
• Management skills are just as important as functional skills in the tech industry.
• Yaniv's engineering management curriculum can help engineering managers become more effective in their organizations.
• How to match the culture of the person to the group or the company in an actionable way to get the best candidate.
• Time is the most precious resource, so it is important to focus on the most important things and prioritize them all the time.

Episode Outline

[00:09] Meet Yaniv
[08:37] The Importance of building the Right Thing
[10:55] How to create an engineering culture for success
[19:22] Aligning Cultures
[27:04] Managing one to one feedback
[37:31] The Difference between Delegation and Assignment
[46:59] Managing your time