1:1 with Natascha Thomas - finding passion, channeling anxiety into risk management

1:1 with Andy Siefkes - Get Busy Liv’n

Andy Siefkes–Co-founder of Connective and Get Busy Liv’n–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast. We discuss the importance of living an authentic, balanced life in an industry where it can be challenging to do so. 0:00 - Intro 2:24 - Work-life balance and the Get Busy Livn brand 4:34 - How Get Busy Livn started 7:15 - What happens on a Get Busy Livn trip 9:20 - Different personality types / being true to yourself 15:53 - Advice for workaholics on how to Get Busy Livn 21:21 - Strategies to confront pressure  26:42 - The importance of hope and friendship 32:13 - What's next for Get Busy Livn 39:01 - Final thoughts ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

1:1 with Andrey Kudievskiy - AI is replacing tasks, NOT jobs

Andrey Kudievskiy–CEO of Distillery–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast. We discuss the real world impact of AI, advice for software engineers still struggling to land a role in this challenging job market, and some predictions about the future. Takeaways: * At Distillery, integrating AI tools is making developers between 40% and 60% more productive but is not replacing their jobs. They have seen even bigger gains in generating test data (approximately 2-3x). * Today’s challenging job market for software engineers is mostly due to pandemic overhiring, not AI. * For engineers struggling to find a new role in the current job market, you may have skills outside the job description which can help you stand out. For example, at Distillery developers who can communicate in multiple languages may get more opportunities given the company’s multinational clients. 0:00 - Intro 3:27 - Onshore vs offshore vs nearshore 7:05 - Distillery's journey into AI 12:14 - Overcoming growing pains 16:52 - Generative AI hype vs. help 21:10 - Making the business case for AI 23:12 - Advice to engineers feeling stuck in this job market 26:51 - In-demand skills and upskilling 30:32 - Dealing with legacy systems 34:58 - Training sales to speak intelligently about AI 37:37 - Looking ahead 2-3 years 44:34 - Closing thoughts ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

1:1 with Casandra Minichiello - Agile is NOT dead, it’s just evolving

Casandra Minichiello–Agile Coaching Senior Advisor for Cigna–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast. We talk about the emotional roots of the Agile Manifesto, how Agile has been misapplied, and what it looks like when Agile coaching is done right. We also reminisce about the joy of using a physical Kanban board. 0:00 - Intro 2:50 - Where Agility started for Casandra (reminiscing about 2005 WebMD) 11:37 - Agile is NOT a project management methodology 14:13 - PMI / Scrum Alliance merger 15:48 - How upper management can support Agile teams 20:38 - The joys of a physical Kanban board  24:44 - Some Agile history / terminology  33:14 - Evolving Agile to work better in hybrid and remote environments 43:15 - Signs a company isn’t really Agile 45:47 - Doing Agile vs. being Agile 52:32 - Why Casandra prefers Kanban over Scrum  56:48 - Agile pet peeves 1:03:27 - One small change a leader can make to foster more agility 1:08:32 - Final thoughts Takeaways: * Agile is NOT dead, contrary to what you might have read on LinkedIn. But it is evolving to adapt to a software industry which has undergone many changes since the Agile Manifesto was written in 2001. * Agile is NOT a project management framework, which makes the Scrum Alliance merger with PMI confusing and frustrating * Kanban is the best Agile methodology for most people (sorry Scrum) ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

1:1 with Natascha Thomas - finding passion, channeling anxiety into risk management

Natascha Thomas–Regional Director, Operations Leadership with Sparq–joins us for this episode of The 1:1 Podcast. She shares her unconventional career journey, transitioning from life sciences to the gaming industry and eventually into consulting, where she now leads developers and multiple PMOs. Takeaways: * Follow your passion, but stay adaptable. Each of Natascha’s career transitions were driven by curiosity and a willingness to embrace new challenges. * Stay curious and continuously upskill, whether through formal education, side projects, or hands-on experience. * Career risks can pay off if they align with your skills, interests, and market trends. 0:00 - Intro 1:10 - Natascha’s career journey from life sciences to gaming 5:45 - Becoming a producer 8:45 - Moving into consulting and leadership 13:00 - Eye-openers when moving to a new industry 13:53 - Speaking to experience when changing industries 15:21 - Handling engineers making video games vs. engineers in consulting 17:04 - Dealing with difficult people 18:28 - Do you ever miss the gaming industry? 19:44 - Finding passion in your current position 22:57 - Is there anything you wish you’d done differently? 25:45 - Leading a PMO 28:30 - Key skills to lead a PMO 30:14 - Applying skills from life sciences in her current career 33:16 - Channeling anxiety into risk management 34:17 - What’s next? 36:28 - Final thoughts ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

1:1 with Alex Bruce - demystifying the sales process for engineers

Alex Bruce–a Go-to-Market and Revenue Growth Leader and Advisor–joins us for the newest episode of The 1:1 Podcast. We discuss the mindset and driving forces behind sellers, how engineers can make a difference in sales pursuits, and share strategies for effectively engaging with and empowering sales teams. Takeaways: * Engineers who engage in sales processes not only help the company win business but also increase their own visibility within the organization, which can lead to career advancement. * When sales and engineering teams collaborate closely, it reduces the blame game and fosters a culture of shared responsibility. * Software engineers who understand how their company’s products are positioned in the market are more valuable and better equipped to grow their careers. 0:00 - Intro 1:34 - Demystifying the sales process for engineers 7:40 - Curiosity and problem solving in sales 10:08 - Aligning sales and development teams 14:50 - Benefits of engineers participating in sales pursuits 19:28 - Breaking down misconceptions of salespeople 24:09 - Example of an engineer making an impact on sales (shout out to Jackson Stakeman) 32:53 - How to engage and support sales efforts 40:53 - Torturing a metaphor 44:28 - Alex’s career journey and final thoughts ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.