Design Leadership Insights is a podcast where host Paul, shares real stories, strategies, and lessons learned from building and leading design teams. With over 15 years of experience navigating the complex world of design leadership, Paul offers practical frameworks and actionable advice for design leaders at all stages of their journey. Voice production enhanced with AI-assisted technology for consistent audio quality.
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UX Architect Podcasts
Beyond Coding is a weekly podcast with conversations that go "beyond coding" in a fireside chat format. Common topics are tech, entrepreneurship, and career journeys. Authentic, informative and inspiring. That's the aim for each episode. New episodes every Wednesday 🎙
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Welcome to Tangents by Out of Architecture, hosted by Silvia Lee. We’re highlighting some of our favorite stories from the amazing people we’ve met along our journey. We will hear how they created a unique career path for themselves from the variety of skills and talents they developed in and out of architecture. Out of Architecture is a career consulting firm started by two Harvard-educated professionals interested in exploring the value of their skills both in and out of the architectural ...
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How Hackathons Make You a Better Software Engineer
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42:27
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42:27What if you could turn a weekend project into a core product feature at a major tech company? We sit down with Behrouz Pooladrak, a software engineer and hackathon legend at Booking.com, to uncover how these intense competitions can fast-track your skills, career, and impact. He shares the mindset and strategies that took his ideas from a one-day b…
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AI Startup CEO Reveals What Really Kills AI Projects
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44:08What if the biggest obstacles to AI innovation aren't what you think? Deeploy CEO Maarten Stolk shares his controversial but effective strategies for building successful AI products and ecosystems, challenging the common wisdom around bottom-up initiatives and regulation. In this episode, we cover: Why bottom-up initiatives fail without strong top-…
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The Graph Problem Most Developers Don't Know They Have
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54:38As a developer, you're trained to think in rows and tables. But what if that's the exact reason you're missing the most powerful connections in your data? There's a fundamental "Graph Problem" hiding in plain sight in almost every application, and once you see it, you'll wonder how you ever missed it. In this episode, we reveal this "obvious" secre…
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How Deepfakes are Evolving (And What You NEED to Know)
1:02:30
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1:02:30It takes just three seconds for AI to steal your voice and impersonate you in a way no one can detect. How can you protect yourself, your family, and your finances when seeing and hearing is no longer believing? In this episode, deepfake expert Parya Lotfi reveals the shocking reality of AI-driven scams, from fraudulent bank transfers to fake kidna…
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From Pixels to Tokens: UX Is Not Enough Anymore
47:41
47:41
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47:41What does it take to build AI features at the scale of Microsoft Copilot? Senior Product Manager Stéphanie Visser reveals the massive shifts in product development, from focusing on pixels to tokens and embracing a culture of rapid, data-driven experimentation. Learn how the roles of PMs, engineers, and scientists are evolving and what it takes to …
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Stop Hiring Junior Engineers Because of AI?
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49:41As AI accelerates development, many companies are halting junior hiring, believing AI tools can replace them. Shahin Shahkarami, Director of Data & AI at Ikea Retail, argues this is a massive mistake and that now is actually the best time to invest in new talent. In this episode/video, we cover: Why companies should hire junior talent despite the r…
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How to Master Software Engineering (From Junior to Architect)
52:48
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52:48Feeling overwhelmed by the constant change in software engineering? After 25 years in the industry, CTO Joris Kuipers shares a pragmatic roadmap to not just survive, but achieve true mastery in your craft, whether you're a junior developer or a seasoned architect. In this episode, we cover: How to focus your learning when new technologies emerge da…
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The Simple Daily Habit That Unlocks Your Productivity
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44:42Time is your most finite resource; once you spend it, you can never get it back. In this conversation, co-founder and Senior Product Manager Joseph Hill reveals the mindset and systems he uses to be intentional with his time, manage his focus, and stay productive without burning out. In this episode, we cover: How to be intentional with your time a…
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Principal Software Engineer: Democracy at Work is Overrated
1:04:06
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1:04:06Dario Gieselaar, Principal Software Engineer from Elastic gets brutally honest about what it really takes to succeed in a top tech company. We uncover the uncomfortable truths about the promotion game, why direct feedback is crucial (even when it hurts), and why a "winning" mindset is everything. This is the conversation about career growth they do…
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How to Get a Remote or International Tech Job (Complete Guide)
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30:15The most common question I get is "How do I land a remote or international tech job?" In this episode, I'm breaking down the exact roadmap I would follow, from building core skills to the one thing you MUST do to get noticed by recruiters. This isn't just about resumes; it's about building a career that opens global doors. In this video, we cover: …
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Tech Founder: From 0 to 15 Million Users. Here's What We Learned
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45:43Maximiliano Neustadt, CTO and co-founder of Polarsteps, shares the incredible journey of building a travel app from 5 people to over 15 million users. From surviving as a travel company during the worst possible timing to scaling without hustle culture, Maxi reveals the key decisions, hiring practices, and leadership lessons that drove their succes…
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From Faceplant to Feature-Rich: A UX Designer's Journey Through Website Redesign
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13:06Design leader Paul shares the unvarnished truth about launching a podcast website that failed spectacularly, and how systematically addressing each failure point led to insights that transformed both the website and his entire approach to design accountability. Drawing from his experience of rushing through a redesign that prioritized speed over th…
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Atif Qadir joins Silvia on Tangents to explore his journey from architecture to real estate development and tech entrepreneurship. They discuss the evolving nature of careers in the AEC industry, the importance of adaptability, and the benefits of life coaching and mentorship. Atif shares insights on recognizing personal values and the significance…
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Software Engineering Went From Hacker Culture to...
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50:48Pauline Vos (Senior Software Engineer at MongoDB) reveals how software culture evolved from its counterculture, DIY, and anarchist roots to what we see today. We explore: The original hacker mindset and why it mattered How open source was always political Why 2017-2018 changed everything Where to still find real hacker culture (hint: hacker camps, …
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Design leader Paul demonstrates how to transform skeptical executives into design champions by speaking the language of business impact rather than design principles. Through a powerful case study of quantifying a $4.2 million "Poor Design Tax," this episode reveals how conducting design debt audits, running strategic pilot projects, and connecting…
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Search Is In Everything You Build (And You Probably Don't Know It)
49:10
49:10
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49:10Search is just about Google? Think again. In this conversation with Pratim Bhosale (Senior Developer Experience Engineer at Treblle), we discuss how search technology secretly powers nearly every app you use daily. What we discuss: - Why Netflix recommendations are actually reverse search - How dating app swipes and e-commerce filters are sophistic…
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Rapid Prototyping at Enterprise Scale: Speed Without Sacrificing Quality
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9:33Design leader Paul reveals how to overcome enterprise barriers to rapid prototyping by transforming organizational belief systems rather than just processes. Through a compelling case study of reducing project timelines from six months to six weeks, this episode demonstrates how redefining quality as learning velocity, democratizing prototyping cap…
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Inside VEED’s AI Product Strategy: Speed, Scale, and User Feedback with Samuel Beek
40:39
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40:39Samuel Beek, Chief Product Officer at VEED, joins me to share how their team ships AI-powered features in days, not months. We explore VEED’s product strategy, how they stay close to users, and what it really takes to build fast without breaking things. If you're building with AI or working in product, this episode is packed with useful takeaways. …
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Designing for Multimodal Experiences: Unifying Fragmented User Journeys
11:23
11:23
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11:23This season premiere reveals how design leaders can transform fragmented user experiences into unified journeys that fundamentally improve human performance. Paul shares the powerful shift from system-first to journey-first thinking through a real-world logistics redesign project, demonstrating how questioning fundamental assumptions about system o…
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From AI Hype to Real-World Results! Getting AI into Production with Sohrab Hosseini
41:02
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41:02How do you cut through the AI hype and successfully deploy AI products at scale? In this episode, Sohrab Hosseini (co-founder of Orq) shares practical insights into overcoming common challenges of AI production: model hallucinations, cost management, maintaining observability, and scalability. Discover the realities of putting AI into practice and …
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Why We're Excited About React Compiler (React Compiler Explained) with Lydia Hallie
19:35
19:35
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19:35This was a special episode, recorded at React Summit in Amsterdam! Curious to hear your feedback! The next edition of the biggest React conference will be in New York, on November 18 & 21, and Early Bird tickets are out if you're interested: https://reactsummit.us/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=beyondcoding The utm tags are only to gauge interest :…
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AI in Software Engineering: Productivity, Pitfalls, and Practical Advice with Stacy Cashmore
55:31
55:31
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55:31Is AI a productivity tool or a dangerous shortcut for developers? In this episode, Stacy Cashmore, Product Lead at OmniPlan, joins us to discuss the practical realities of integrating AI into software engineering. Stacy shares real-world insights from developing AI-driven products, highlighting both the powerful benefits and significant pitfalls de…
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The Identity Crisis of Software Engineers in the Age of AI with Borislav Nikolov & Rares Mirica
1:12:46
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1:12:46AI is reshaping software engineering—but are developers getting better or worse? In this episode, Borislav Nikolov and Rares Mirica join me to discuss the identity crisis facing software engineers due to AI-driven tools. We explore the balance between increased productivity and potential intellectual decline, and what developers can do to stay ahea…
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Can AI Really Replace Human Customer Support?
40:36
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40:36In this episode, Dennis de Reus, co-founder of Stellar and former Head of AI at ABN Amro, reveals how AI-driven voice technology is redefining customer interactions. We discuss practical experiences, real customer feedback, and the capabilities of AI compared to human support agents. Topics include: ✅ How Stellar uses AI to improve customer support…
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Leadership, Burnout & Building Global Teams with Ray Bogman
53:23
53:23
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53:23Great leaders don’t manage—they inspire, coach, and build trust. In this episode, Ray Bogman (Head of Innovation at Alumio) shares his experience leading a global team of 75 people and discusses why traditional management doesn’t work in today’s diverse, remote-driven world. We dive into how empathy, psychological safety, and relationship-building …
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What is Vibe Coding? The New Way Developers Build Software with Zowie Langdon
1:12:45
1:12:45
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1:12:45"Vibe coding"—it’s the buzzword you might not have heard yet, but it could change your entire workflow. In this episode, Zowie Langdon explains exactly what vibe coding is: a modern approach that pairs developers with powerful AI tools (such as GPT-4, Cursor, Claude, and Gemini) to rapidly accelerate software development. We discuss how this innova…
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Public Speaking, Networking & the Role of Architects with Bert-Jan Schrijver
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52:39
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52:39Ever considered speaking at a tech conference but felt unsure or overwhelmed? In this episode, Bert-Jan Schrijver, CTO at OpenValue, shares invaluable insights on why public speaking is one of the most powerful ways developers can grow their careers, sharpen their skills, and expand their professional networks. Bert-Jan provides practical advice fo…
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Rust, Game Development & Career Growth with Stephan Dilly
45:57
45:57
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45:57Can learning Rust boost your software engineering career? Absolutely. In this episode, Stephan Dilly, Rust expert and seasoned game developer, discusses why Rust has quickly become a critical skill in the industry. He shares insights on Rust’s challenging learning curve, why it’s worth mastering, and how it positions you as a highly sought-after en…
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The First 90 Days - A Design Leader's Guide to New Role Impact
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13:26This end-of-season episode demonstrates how effective design leaders navigate their first 90 days in a new role by prioritizing deep understanding and strategic relationship-building before implementing changes, creating a foundation for lasting organizational transformation. Paul reveals a three-phase framework—Listening, Vision Crafting, and Stra…
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From Metrics to Meaning: Transforming Customer Satisfaction Data into Design Decisions
12:54
12:54
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12:54Design leader Paul reveals how to transform raw customer satisfaction metrics into meaningful design decisions. Drawing from his experience at Expedia and a global logistics company, he shares a proven three-tiered approach to understanding what lies beneath the numbers. Paul demonstrates how leadership that focuses on uncovering human stories behi…
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The Creative Leader's Paradox: How Side Projects Make Better Design Managers
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13:03Design leader Paul explores how seemingly unrelated creative pursuits enhance leadership capabilities. Drawing from his experience with music production, filmmaking, and podcasting, he reveals how these diverse creative domains provide unique perspectives on team dynamics, communication, and problem-solving. Discover the Creative Leader's Paradox a…
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From Code to Canvas - Why Technical Backgrounds Create Stronger Design Leaders
10:37
10:37
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10:37Discover how technical backgrounds create stronger design leaders through systems thinking, embracing constraints, and iteration. Former developer turned UX leader Paul shares practical insights on bridging technical and creative domains to build better products and more effective design teams. Learn actionable strategies for leveraging technical k…
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Design Leadership as a Bridge - Uniting User Needs with Business Objectives
12:06
12:06
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12:06This episode reveals how effective design leadership bridges the false dichotomy between user needs and business objectives, with real-world examples of uniting these seemingly competing priorities. Through practical strategies like translation tools and cross-functional collaboration, design leaders can transform organizational tensions into oppor…
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Progressive Disclosure in Enterprise Design: Less Is More, Until It Isn't
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13:09
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13:09Paul shares leadership strategies for implementing progressive disclosure in enterprise UX design, navigating competing stakeholder priorities, guiding cross-functional teams, and transforming complex interfaces into intuitive experiences that satisfy both business requirements and user needs. Learn how effective design leaders balance complexity a…
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Why Your Org Chart is Breaking Your Software
1:00:24
1:00:24
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1:00:24Can bad team structures lead to bad software? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, André Borgonovo (Engineering Manager at GoodHabitz) joins me to discuss how team restructuring, Conway’s Law, and domain-driven design impact software development. We explore why engineering teams succeed or struggle based on how they’re structured—and wha…
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Beyond Basic vs. Premium - Reimagining the Flight Booking Experience
18:56
18:56
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18:56In this episode, I share how my team transformed confusing airline fare options into an intuitive booking experience. Rather than trying to explain complex fare differences, we created a customized approach where travelers select desired features first. By implementing progressive disclosure techniques and focusing on user decision-making patterns,…
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How to Stay Ahead as a Software Engineer - No Matter What Changes!
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45:21
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45:21🔥 How do top software engineers stay ahead—no matter how fast technology evolves? The tech industry is constantly shifting, and staying relevant as a software engineer isn’t just about learning the latest frameworks. In this episode, we dive into:** ✅ How to master your tools & become highly efficient ✅ The mindset shift every engineer needs to sta…
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In this episode, I reveal how to transform design critiques from anxiety-inducing sessions into catalysts for innovation through a four-part framework: 24-Hour Context Share, 15-Minute Solution Story, Structured Feedback Rounds, and Documented Action Items. Learn to frame feedback as questions and create psychological safety for all team members. K…
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How Elite Developers Think Differently (And How You Can Too)
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50:41What separates elite software engineers from the rest? It’s not just coding skills, it’s how they think, make decisions, and collaborate. In this episode, we dive deep into: 🔥 The mindset shift that unlocks next-level engineering success 🤝 How co-creation and transparency lead to better products 🚀 Why top developers rethink roadmaps and challenge p…
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In this episode, Paul explores how psychological safety transforms design teams into innovation powerhouses. Learn how a junior designer's breakthrough idea led to a 42% increase in user onboarding completion rates, and discover practical frameworks for creating an environment where team members feel empowered to take creative risks and challenge e…
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Breaking Into Tech Changed Everything. This Is Why | With Ornella Friggit-Konaté
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48:30Many think breaking into tech is just about learning to code—but the reality is far more complex. In this episode, I sit down with Ornella to dive into the unexpected lessons she learned from transitioning into tech. We talk about why mindset matters as much as technical skills, the power of feedback in career growth, and the surprising truths abou…
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The 89% Solution: How to Build and Retain a High-Performing Design Team
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9:59In this episode, Paul reveals the strategies behind achieving an impressive 89% retention rate across a global team of 16 designers. Learn about the PETaLS framework for meaningful one-on-ones, creating personalized growth paths, building psychological safety through structured critique, and empowering designers by involving them in the business co…
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Tech Leadership Hiring Secrets for Career Growth and Balance with John Müller
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48:29
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48:29Are you eager to climb the tech career ladder while maintaining a healthy work-life balance? In this insightful episode of Beyond Coding, we uncover the essential strategies for effective leadership hiring and explore how these practices can accelerate your professional growth. What You'll Learn: Leadership Hiring Secrets: Dive into key tactics and…
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Scaling Design Impact: From Solo Contributor to Team Leader
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9:27
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9:27In this first episode, Paul shares how he built a thriving design team of 16 designers across three regions, starting from literally zero. Learn about securing leadership buy-in through data-driven approaches, strategic hiring for long-term impact, building structured design processes that work across time zones, and creating genuine connections in…
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Bob van Luijt's Lessons from Scaling Weaviate: Startup Growth & Hiring
57:31
57:31
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57:31Scaling a startup is harder than it looks. From hiring and funding to execution, most founders underestimate what it really takes to grow a business. In this episode,Bob van Luijt, CEO & co-founder of Weaviate, shares hishard-earned lessons from building an AI-native database company that has scaled to100+ employees worldwide. What you’ll learn in …
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Testing at Scale: What Every Developer Needs to Know with Maurício Aniche
56:12
56:12
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56:12Testing at scale is hard. In this episode, we explore what every developer needs to know about writing tests in large organizations, preventing bottlenecks, and ensuring software quality at scale. Featuring insights from Mauricio Aniche, Tech Lead at Adyen and former professor at TU Delft Connect with Maurício: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricioa…
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Copilot Will Change How You Work Forever. Here's Why with Femke Cornelissen
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44:51Connect with Femke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/femcornelissen https://femkecornelissen.com Full episode on YouTube ▶️ https://youtu.be/AXJGKKzObYk Beyond Coding Podcast with 🎙Patrick Akil Powered by …
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Why Some Engineers Rise to Leadership - And Others Don’t with Marcel de Vries
52:33
52:33
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52:33Connect with Marcel: https://marceldevries.me https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelv https://x.com/marcelv Full episode on YouTube ▶️ https://youtu.be/LmY1Mj5IbB0 Beyond Coding Podcast with 🎙Patrick Akil Powered by …
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When to use Kubernetes and Internal Developer Platforms with Mojtaba Imani
49:07
49:07
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49:07Connect with Mojtaba: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mojtabaimani https://x.com/smojtabaimaniCheck out Kuberise: https://kuberise.io Full episode on YouTube ▶️ https://youtu.be/SZHcteG52Ek Beyond Coding Podcast with 🎙Patrick Akil…
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App Development with Kotlin Multiplatform with Abdullah Zaiter & Urs Peter
46:36
46:36
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46:36Connect with Abdullah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaitera https://zaitech.dev Connect with Urs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/urs-peter-70a2882 Full episode on YouTube ▶️ https://youtu.be/hwTlKa1_CoE Beyond Coding Podcast with 🎙Patrick Akil…
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