The tales of software engineering people - about their journey and about the state of the industry today.
We go deeper and pursue all the bits that tell the whole story.
Everyone's journey is different - let's learn together with my guests, leaning into their experience and wisdom.
Why Empathy is a Superpower for High-Performing Teams | Scott Varho Interview
You can reach Scott Varho on his LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvarho/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvarho/)
In this conversation with tech leadership expert Scott Varho, we explore why empathy is the ultimate superpower for creating high-performing software engineering teams. Scott shares practical wisdom from his vast experience, covering topics such as:
Building and maintaining highly effective teams
Common anti-patterns that hinder team performance
How to conduct meaningful retrospectives that actually improve teams
Managing stakeholder expectations and improving team collaboration
Balancing business clarity with technical realities
Strategic planning: finding the right balance
Navigating common pitfalls in engineering leadership
The real impact of AI on the future of software engineering jobs
Tune in to understand how empathy and strategic clarity can drastically improve your team's effectiveness and job satisfaction.
🔔 Subscribe for more software engineering insights and interviews! 🚀
00:00 Introduction to Scott and His Journey03:25 Building High-Performing Software Teams18:25 The Importance of Retrospectives23:16 Challenges and Human Psychology in Tech25:14 Understanding Stakeholder Needs26:47 Challenges in Technology Implementation27:46 The Cost of Maintenance31:12 Leadership Fears and Motivations35:16 Strategic Operating Systems41:14 The Role of AI in Technology50:09 Empathy as a Superpower
26 Mar 2025
Why Quality Must Start on Day One with Maryia Tuleika
What does it really mean to build high-quality software, and why do so many teams get it wrong?
In this episode, Maryia Tuleika, an experienced quality engineering consultant, shares raw, real-world stories from her work across startups and large-scale enterprises. From near-disasters with overheated batteries to the invisible costs of skipping QA early on, Maryia reveals the patterns she’s seen and the mindset shift every dev team needs.
Connect with Maryia on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryia-tuleika/
🎧 Subscribe for more unfiltered software engineering stories and insights.
00:00 Introduction00:44 Guest Introduction: Meet Maryia04:22 Importance of Quality from the Start07:28 Challenges in Quality Assurance14:08 AI in Software Development17:23 Maria's Career Journey19:40 Public Speaking and Networking22:22 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts
27 Feb 2025
The Role of Tech Lead with Anemari Fiser
Today I talk with Anemari Fiser about all sorts of topics connected to the role of tech lead.
How did she become a tech lead, what is the difference between that role and team lead, and how to prepare for the tech lead role.
Anemari shares her journey, her experiences with pair programming and TDD, and the challenges tech leads face, like time management.
She also explains her work helping senior engineers and tech leads through her activities - like the upcoming book! (link below) And as usual - there is also a juicy “Tell me about the time you messed up”…
Connect with Anemari:
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anemari-fiser/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anemari-fiser/)
O’Reilly book - Leveling Up as a Tech Lead (Early release version):
https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/leveling-up-as/9781098177508 (https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/leveling-up-as/9781098177508)
O’Reilly online course - Soft Skills for Tech Leads:
https://learning.oreilly.com/course/soft-skills-for/0642572043995/ (https://learning.oreilly.com/course/soft-skills-for/0642572043995/)
Level up as a Tech Lead Newsletter:
https://anemarifiser.substack.com (https://anemarifiser.substack.com)
Coaching 1-1:
https://anemarifiser.substack.com/p/1-1-coaching (https://anemarifiser.substack.com/p/1-1-coaching)
00:00 Introduction and Early Career Aspirations00:49 Guest Introduction and Initial Conversation01:30 Daily Life of a Tech Lead03:16 Tech Lead vs Team Lead07:33 Becoming a Tech Lead12:53 Current Role and Projects15:34 Challenges and Advice for Tech Leads16:58 Pair Programming Insights26:26 Balancing Learning and Work30:47 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts
20 Feb 2025
Understanding Quality in Software Engineering with Katka Pilátová
Today, I invited Katka Pilátová, a senior software engineer in test, to talk about what makes high-quality software.
We discuss the role of QA, the importance of integrating quality in development, the challenges in communication between developers and QA teams, and the impact of company structure on quality practices.
Katka also shares her insights on the use of AI in testing, her journey into QA, and good practices for maintaining quality in software products.
Connect with Katka through her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katka-pilatova-b2920a84/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katka-pilatova-b2920a84/)
Explore her blog articles around QA topics here: https://medium.com/@tlacenka (https://medium.com/@tlacenka)
00:00 Introduction00:56 Understanding QA Beyond Bug Discovery03:08 The Role of a QA Architect04:47 Challenges in QA and Development Communication06:09 QA in Startups vs. Corporates07:07 Journey into QA and Software Engineering11:28 The Importance of Manual Testing15:57 AI in QA: Current Use and Future Potential20:51 Defining Quality in Software29:44 Improving Developer and QA Collaboration40:11 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts
12 Feb 2025
From Teacher To Software Engineer - Breaking things down and using people skills with Callie Buruchara
Today, I invited Callie Buruchara, a senior software engineer, to talk about her journey into tech and how her previous experiences influence her career.
We discuss her transition from teaching and international service projects to software engineering, the challenges she faced, and the importance of clear communication and people skills in tech.
Callie also shares practical advice for junior developers, her experiences with imposter syndrome, and the value of a blameless culture in high-performing teams.
Connect with Callie on her LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-buruchara/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/callie-buruchara/)
Callie’s podcast Majority of Work (A ton of knowledge related to people skills in software engineering):https://majorityofwork.buzzsprout.com/ (https://majorityofwork.buzzsprout.com/)
00:00 Introduction00:34 Current Role and Work Experience02:08 Comparing Agency and Product Work04:30 Learning and Adapting to New Projects07:56 Effective Communication in Teams11:07 Journey into Software Engineering15:23 Skills from Past Careers18:08 Challenges as a Junior Developer21:17 Creating Content and Helping Others25:42 Memorable Mistakes and Lessons Learned29:29 Final Thoughts and Takeaway Message
3 Feb 2025
Freelancing in Tech - Insights from Judith Böhlert
In this episode, I chat with Judith Böhlert, a freelance software engineer, about her journey into tech, transitioning from mathematics to programming, and her experiences working as a freelancer.
We explore the dynamics between freelancers and clients, the pros and cons of frequent project changes, and how she secures clients through networking.
Judith also shares her insights on getting into a new code base quickly, the use of AI tools like Copilot, and much more.
You can connect with Judith here on her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jboehlert/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jboehlert/)
00:00 Introduction
00:55 Journey into Software Engineering
02:07 Early Career Experiences
05:26 Freelancing: The Decision and Experience
08:24 Finding Clients and Building a Network
11:51 Navigating Client Relationships and Communication
18:56 The Role of AI in Software Development
26:50 Blameless Culture and Learning from Mistakes
29:20 Final Thoughts and Takeaway Message
14 Jan 2025
From Retail to Product Management - Santiana Brace and her Unconventional Journey into TECH
Santiana Brace, an experienced product manager, shares her unconventional journey from retail to tech, offering insights on transitioning, learning from mistakes, and balancing work and family life.
7 Jan 2025
Code, Create, Connect: John Cricket's Story
In today's episode, I talk with John Cricket,
a seasoned software engineering manager and successful content creator.
We talk about John's career journey, which was not straightforward, his ventures in building an audience through LinkedIn and starting his business after he got laid off
John also shares valuable insights on the importance of soft skills, leadership styles, and the future of his Coding Challenges project, which helps software engineers learn new languages and enhance their skills through real-world applications.
You can connect with John here:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncrickett/)
X: https://x.com/johncrickett (https://x.com/johncrickett)
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/johncrickett.bsky.social)
And here are the Coding Challenges: https://codingchallenges.fyi/ (https://codingchallenges.fyi/)
00:00 Introduction
01:46 Meet John Cricket
02:30 John's Career Journey
05:16 Starting Coding Challenges
10:33 Building a Personal Brand
19:01 The Role of a Software Engineering Manager
23:53 Remote Work vs. Office Work
31:28 The Importance of Soft Skills
33:37 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
21 Nov 2024
Increasing Development Efficiency with AI, Career Shifts, and Empowering Junior Developers with Petr Glaser
Senior software engineer Petr Glaser shares actionable insights on leveraging AI to boost development efficiency, empower junior developers, and navigate career shifts.
4 Nov 2024
#4 - The Human Side of Software Engineering with Vojta Hordějčuk
Send me a messageGet in touch with Vojta here: https://www.voho.eu/. You can find his Linkedin profile there, and also check out his Spotify - there is some cool music there!In today's episode, I am talking with Vojta Hodějčuk, a senior software engineer based in Prague, Czech Republic. We dive into a down-to-earth conversation touching on multiple aspects of balancing a demanding software engineering career with personal life, and then go beyond that.How does Vojta juggle a demanding job and...
29 Oct 2024
#3 - Lindsay Kloepping - The Intersection of Tech and Business: Insights on Product Management
Send me a messageConnect with Lindsay on her Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lkloepping/Follow her blog: https://medium.com/@lindsaykingkloeppingToday I am talking with Lindsay Kloepping, covering a wide range of topics related to product management.Join us as we answer questions such as:What is product management and how does it intersect with customer needs, business needs, and technology?When and why did the role of product management emerge?How does product management differ fr...
22 Oct 2024
#2 - Mindi Weik - Switching Careers and Building Community in Software Engineering
Send me a messageToday I talk with Mindi Weik, a US-based software engineer who transitioned from a career in real estate to tech.You can reach Mindi here: https://mindi.omg.lol/We explore her journey through a tech bootcamp while working full-time, the challenges she faced as a junior developer, and the unique obstacles women encounter in the tech industry.Mindi shares the importance of seeking feedback, community support, and networking, offering concrete examples of mentorship and success ...
14 Oct 2024
#1 - Scott Varho - Crafting Software: Get it right, don't try to be right.
Send me a messageToday I talk with Scott Varho, founder and principal consultant of OLO about high performing teams and current challenges of industry. Scott shares his diverse career journey, his insights, and the critical role of human elements in product development. You can connect with Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottvarho/And you can reach out to his business OLO here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/olosolutions/02:14 Scott's Professional Journey03:4...
11 Oct 2024
#0 - Show Trailer
Send me a messageStories from the Human Side of Software Engineering - That's what this podcast is about. I explore the software crafting industry one story at a time. Not convinced? Listen to this short Trailer. Listen to some of the stories, some of the wisdom from upcoming episodes. We are launching on October 15th (fingers crossed), so hit subscribe and welcome aboard!00:00 Introduction to the Podcast01:30 Empowered Teams and Problem Solving - Scott Varho02:09 Cu...
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
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Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
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