CTO Series: Bridging Innovation and Strategy as CTO of CrateDB With Sergey Gerasimenko

Global Agile Summit Preview: How to Measure and Visualize Software Improvement for Actionable Results with Mooly Beeri In this BONUS Global Agile Summit preview episode, we explore how to effectively measure and visualize the continuous improvement journey in technology organizations. Mooly Beeri shares his data-driven approach that helps software teams identify where to focus their improvement efforts and how to quantify their progress over time. We discuss practical examples from major organizations like Philips and Aptiv, revealing how visualization creates an internal language of improvement that empowers teams while giving leadership the insights needed to make strategic decisions. Visualizing Software Development Effectiveness "We visualize the entire SDLC end-to-end. All the aspects... we have a grading of each step in the SDLC. It starts with a focus on understanding what needs to be done better." Mooly shares how his approach at Philips helped create visibility across a diverse organization built from numerous acquisitions with different technologies and development cultures. The challenge was helping management understand the status of software craftsmanship across the company. His solution was developing a heat map visualization that examines the entire software development lifecycle (SDLC) - from requirements gathering through deployment and support - with an effectiveness index for each stage. This creates an at-a-glance view where management can quickly identify which teams need support in specific areas like automation, code reviews, or CI/CD processes. This visualization becomes a powerful internal language for improvement discussions, allowing focused investment decisions instead of relying on intuition or which team has the most persuasive argument. The framework creates alignment while empowering teams to determine their own improvement paths. Measuring What Matters: The Code Review Example "We often hear 'we have to do code reviews, of course we do them,' but when we talk about 'how well are they done?', the answer comes 'I don't know, we haven't measured it.'" When one team wanted to double the time invested in code reviews based on conference recommendations, Mooly helped them develop a meaningful measurement approach. They created the concept of "code review escapes" - defects that could have been caught with better code reviews but weren't. By gathering the team to evaluate a sample of defects after each iteration, they could calculate what percentage "escaped" the code review process. This measurement allowed the team to determine if doubling review time actually improved outcomes. If the escape rate remained at 30%, the investment wasn't helping. If it dropped to 20%, they could calculate a benefit ratio. This approach has been expanded to measure "escapes" in requirements, design, architecture, and other SDLC phases, enabling teams to consciously decide where improvement efforts would yield the greatest returns. Balancing Team Autonomy with Organizational Alignment "Our model focuses on giving teams many options on how to improve, not just one like from top-down improvements. We want to focus the teams on improving on what matters the most." Mooly contrasts his approach with traditional top-down improvement mandates, sharing a story from Microsoft where a VP mandated increasing unit test coverage from 70% to 80% across all teams regardless of their specific needs. Instead, his framework agrees on an overall definition of effectiveness while giving teams flexibility to choose their improvement path. Like athletes at different fitness levels, teams with lower effectiveness have many paths to improvement, while high-performing teams have fewer options. This creates a win-win scenario where teams define their own improvement strategy based on their context, while management can still see quantifiable progress in overall organizational effectiveness. Adapting to Different Industry Contexts "TIP: Keep the model of evaluation flexible enough to adapt to a team's context." While working across healthcare, automotive, and other industries, Mooly found that despite surface differences, all software teams face similar fundamental challenges throughout the development lifecycle. His effectiveness framework was born in the diverse Philips environment, where teams built everything from espresso machine firmware to hospital management systems and MRI scanners. The framework maintains flexibility by letting teams define what's critical in their specific context. For example, when measuring dynamic analysis, teams define which runtime components are most important to monitor. For teams releasing once every four years (like medical equipment), continuous integration means something very different than for teams deploying daily updates. The framework adapts to these realities while still providing meaningful measurements. Taking the First Step Toward Measured Improvement "Try to quantify the investment, by defining where to improve by how much. We encourage the team to measure effectiveness of whatever the practices are they need to improve." For leaders looking to implement a more measured approach to improvement, Mooly recommends starting by focusing teams on one simple question: how will we know if our improvement efforts are actually working? Rather than following trends or implementing changes without feedback mechanisms, establish concrete metrics that demonstrate progress and help calculate return on investment. The key insight is that most teams already value continuous improvement but struggle with prioritization and knowing when they've invested enough in one area. By creating a quantifiable framework, teams can make more conscious decisions about where to focus their limited improvement resources and demonstrate their progress to leadership in a language everyone understands. About Mooly Beeri Mooly Beeri is a software transformation expert with nearly 30 years of industry experience. As founder and CEO of BetterSoftware.dev, he developed a very practical and visual approach to visualize and measure the improvements in technology organizations like Microsoft, Phillips, and Aptiv. His data-driven approach helps organizations visualize and optimize their entire software development lifecycle through measurable improvements. You can link with Mooly Beeri on LinkedIn and visit Mooly Beeri’s website.

10 Mars 43min

BONUS: The Power of Handwritten Letters for Leaders With Amy Daughters In this BONUS episode, we explore the transformative power of handwritten letters with author Amy Daughters. In her book, Dear Dana, Amy shares her remarkable journey of reconnecting with hundreds of people through the lost art of letter writing and reveals how leaders can use this simple yet profound tool to build deeper connections, foster engagement, and create lasting impact in their organizations. The Genesis of a Letter-Writing Mission "I was minding my own business, just doing my thing, and I get on Facebook one day in 2014, very innocently, like we all do, and I had a memory of a friend that I'd worked with at a summer camp here in Texas 35 years ago." Amy's journey began with a simple Facebook search for an old camp friend named Dana. After reconnecting online, Amy discovered that Dana's young son was battling cancer. Initially just following their story from a distance, Amy felt compelled to start sending handwritten letters to Dana and her son during their hospital stays. When Dana's son tragically passed away at age 15, Amy continued writing to Dana, sending letters to her husband's law office despite feeling it might be irrational. Five months later, she received a ten-page handwritten response from Dana, sparking a two-year correspondence that changed both of their lives. This powerful connection ultimately inspired Amy to write letters to all 580 of her Facebook friends in a remarkable social experiment that transformed her perspective on human relationships. The Power of Human Connection "We were relating to each other as simple human beings. I didn't know how she voted, she didn't know how I voted... I didn't know what her religious views were. I didn't know what she thought about any kind of social issues." What began as a simple act of kindness evolved into a profound lesson in human connection. Amy describes how her letter-writing created a unique space where people could connect authentically without the filters and divisions of social media or modern digital communication. The letters fostered relationships based purely on shared humanity rather than political views, religious beliefs, or social stances. This experiment changed Amy herself as much as it impacted recipients, giving her a deeper appreciation for the unique individuals in her life and helping her see beyond labels to the person beneath. For leaders, this highlights how communication tools that prioritize personal connection can transcend workplace divisions and build genuine relationships. Creating Lasting Impact with Handwritten Notes "When someone receives a handwritten item from you, I'm going to immediately realize that you took the time and the effort. And the higher up on the food chain you are, it's even better to do this for me." The most common feedback Amy received from her letter recipients was that they would treasure her letters for life. Many even framed her notes or displayed them prominently in their workspaces. Amy explains that handwritten communication carries profound emotional weight in our digital age precisely because it's become so rare. When a leader takes the time to write a personal note, it signals to the recipient that they are genuinely valued and important enough to warrant the time, effort, and personal touch required. This simple act creates a lasting memento of appreciation that employees often preserve and display proudly. Amy observes that marketing companies spend significant resources attempting to mimic the impact of authentic handwritten communication, underscoring its unique power. The Two-Way Benefit of Letter Writing "The most changed person from all this was me. It changed who I was because I was grateful for all these people who showed up in my life... It made me look at everything in my life differently." Writing letters transforms not only the recipient but also the writer. Amy emphasizes that leaders who adopt this practice will experience personal growth and changed perspectives. The physical act of handwriting slows down thinking, creating space for reflection and deeper consideration that rapid digital communication doesn't allow. This meditative quality helps leaders appreciate team members more fully, connect with their own humanity, and approach relationships with greater empathy and gratitude. Amy found that writing letters made her look outward more thoughtfully and inward more honestly, providing benefits beyond what she initially expected. For leaders, this practice can become a valuable form of mindfulness that strengthens their emotional intelligence and relationship-building capacity. Vulnerability as Leadership Strength "The handwritten letter is an expression of vulnerability... Your handwriting is something that very few people see." In a business world that increasingly values authentic leadership, handwritten notes create a natural opportunity for vulnerability. Amy points out that sharing your imperfect handwriting - something rarely revealed in professional settings - is itself an act of openness. This vulnerability builds trust and demonstrates confidence, showing that you're secure enough to present your unfiltered self. Unlike polished digital communications, handwritten notes can't be perfected or edited, making them inherently more human and relatable. For leaders looking to create psychological safety on their teams and model healthy vulnerability, handwritten notes offer a meaningful and accessible approach that complements other leadership practices. Practical Steps for Leaders: Connecting With Your Team "Trust your human side... commit to one note a week, do it in the morning... it doesn't need to be long." Amy offers practical advice for leaders interested in implementing handwritten notes in their practice: Start with a manageable commitment of one note per week Write notes in the morning before the day gets busy Keep messages brief - even just 2-3 sincere sentences make an impact Don't overthink it or worry about perfect handwriting Use simple note cards rather than elaborate stationery Focus on being genuine rather than eloquent Write without expectation of response Oh, and here is a bonus tip: remember how hard it is to communicate the vision for a change or a product? Try doing it with hand-written notes, and see how that impacts your next big project!  The most significant barrier is simply getting started. Amy encourages leaders to push through any initial discomfort, knowing that the impact of this simple practice far outweighs the minor effort required. About Amy Daughters Amy has a remarkable ability to inspire and connect with audiences, and her work centers around revitalizing human connections in our increasingly digital age. She achieves this by rekindling the age-old art of handwritten letters, infusing them with wit and humor to illuminate the path to profound connections, even in the unlikeliest corners. Her books, such as "Dear Dana" and "You Cannot Mess This Up," have touched the hearts of many, inspiring vulnerability and genuine kinship. Critical characteristics of great leaders. You can link with Amy Daughters on her website.

8 Mars 36min

Anuj Ojha: Helping PO’s Move Beyond User Story Templates to True Customer Understanding Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. The Great Product Owner: The Vision Setter Who Empowers Teams In this segment, Anuj describes an exemplary Product Owner who mastered the art of inclusive product development. This PO excelled at bringing everyone together to discuss the product and potential solutions, while maintaining a clear focus on the vision and problem space. Rather than dictating solutions, they created an environment where team members could freely explore solutions while the PO remained available for questions and guidance. Their success came from building strong relationships with stakeholders and customers, and effectively using the Eisenhower matrix to prioritize work. The Bad Product Owner: The Requirements Translator Anuj discusses common anti-patterns he's observed in Product Owners, particularly those who may have previously been project managers. A crucial issue arises when POs create user stories without first understanding the customer and their journey with the product. Some POs become mere translators, rigidly adhering to story templates instead of truly understanding customer needs. The key to improvement lies in helping POs learn to engage directly with customers, focus on problem exploration rather than immediate solutions, and collaborate with the whole team in solution discussions. Self-reflection Question: How can you help your Product Owner move from being a requirements translator to becoming a true value maximizer? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Anuj Ojha Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven. You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his company’s website Benzne.com.

7 Mars 19min

Anuj Ojha: Building Agile Team Maturity Through Honest Feedback Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. A successful Scrum Master should work towards making themselves unnecessary, but Anuj warns against common anti-patterns in this journey. He emphasizes the danger of viewing Scrum as a universal solution or behaving like a "cult master" who rigidly follows rules instead of listening to team needs. He advises against manipulating conversations or using others' authority to validate decisions. Instead, he promotes viewing Scrum as a continuous PDCA cycle and maintaining an open mind about different approaches. Self-reflection Question: How comfortable is your team with giving and receiving direct, constructive feedback to each other? Featured Retrospective Format for the Week: Team Shared Self-Evaluation This retrospective format focuses on building interpersonal relationships through structured feedback. Using a Google Form, team members answer two key questions about each colleague: what they appreciate about working with them and one change that could make them an even better team member. The format includes a sharing session where team members can process the feedback and discuss it openly. This approach encourages personal accountability by having participants first communicate what they themselves want to change before asking others to change. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Anuj Ojha Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven. You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his company’s website Benzne.com.

6 Mars 17min

Anuj Ojha: Beyond the Iron Triangle, A Path to True Agility Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. Anuj shares his journey of understanding the complexities behind Scrum implementation, particularly when faced with fixed time and scope demands. He emphasizes the importance of learning to communicate effectively with different stakeholders in their own language. Through experience, he discovered that the traditional iron triangle (fixed time, scope, and resources) is a fiction in agile environments. His key insight is that while you can fix two sides of the triangle, attempting to fix all three undermines agility. He suggests building cases for critical needs like technical debt and ensuring all voices are heard when determining what's possible. Self-reflection Question: How do you handle situations where stakeholders demand certainty in all three aspects of the iron triangle? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Anuj Ojha Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven. You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his company’s website Benzne.com.

5 Mars 17min

Anuj Ojha: Transforming Agile Team Meetings, Less Time, More Value Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. When Anuj started working with a team that believed asynchronous communication could replace their Daily Scrum, it sparked a journey of meaningful transformation. The team was frustrated with meeting overload and took bold steps to evaluate and modify their meeting structure. They questioned the value of Sprint Reviews and Retrospectives, ultimately creating a more focused approach to meetings. A significant breakthrough came when they removed managers from the Daily Scrum, leading to more effective communication and increased quality time for actual work. The team's success came from creating a backlog of improvements and integrating these directly into their sprint work. Self-reflection Question: How might your team benefit from critically evaluating your current meeting structure and making bold changes? Featured Book of the Week: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni was a game-changer for Anuj, offering a model for understanding team dynamics. The author's five-level model proved especially valuable during challenging periods, providing insights applicable to teams across all domains. The book's framework helped Anuj better understand and address the fundamental dysfunctions that teams commonly face. [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Anuj Ojha Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven. You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his company’s website Benzne.com.

4 Mars 21min

Anuj Ojha: From Process Police to People Partner, Self-Accountability and Self-Awareness for Scrum Masters Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes. In this insightful episode, Anuj shares a powerful story of personal growth as a Scrum Master. Initially caught up in the mechanics of Scrum, he found himself trying to control situations and please everyone while rigidly adhering to the Scrum Guide.  Through a three-step journey of self-awareness, feedback-seeking, and actualization, Anuj discovered that his true challenge lay in understanding himself and his purpose. He learned to shift his focus from velocity and burndown charts to delivering value, and from being process-oriented to being people-oriented. This transformation led him to become more of a listener than a talker, embracing conflict as a natural part of growth. Self-reflection Question: How might your current focus on processes or metrics be affecting your ability to connect with and serve your team members? [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] 🔥In the ruthless world of fintech, success isn’t just about innovation—it’s about coaching!🔥 Angela thought she was just there to coach a team. But now, she’s caught in the middle of a corporate espionage drama that could make or break the future of digital banking. Can she help the team regain their mojo and outwit their rivals, or will the competition crush their ambitions? As alliances shift and the pressure builds, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people. 🚨 Will Angela’s coaching be enough? Find out in Shift: From Product to People—the gripping story of high-stakes innovation and corporate intrigue. Buy Now on Amazon [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends] About Anuj Ojha Anuj is the co-founder & Lead Consultant at Benzne Consulting. With more than a decade of consulting experience & setting up Agile environments. Anuj and his team partner with businesses to unlock their true potential and drive continuous growth. Anuj considers himself framework agnostic, purpose & data driven. You can link with Anuj Ojha on LinkedIn, or via his company’s website Benzne.com.

3 Mars 16min

BONUS: How To Build Trust and Manage Conflict, With Maria Arpa In this BONUS episode, we dive deep into the art of building trust and managing conflict in the workplace with Maria Arpa, an expert mediator and creator of the Dialogue Roadmap. Maria shares powerful insights on transforming workplace dynamics through compassionate communication and authentic dialogue. Understanding Power Dynamics in the Workplace "What we don't talk about openly, most people end up acting out." Power imbalances exist in every workplace and cannot be ignored. Maria emphasizes the importance of exposing and addressing these power dynamics openly, particularly the unspoken contracts that govern our interactions. These implicit agreements often drive behavior and can lead to conflict when left unaddressed. The Dialogue Roadmap: Moving Beyond Debate "We give children prizes for debating societies. We don't give children prizes for collaborative behavior." The Dialogue Roadmap offers a structured approach to authentic conversation that moves away from the traditional debate model. Maria explains how our societal conditioning toward debate and competition can hinder genuine communication and collaboration. Creating Safe Spaces for Difficult Conversations "You can't have these conversations while you're trying to do the work and meet a deadline." One key aspect of effective conflict resolution is creating dedicated spaces for challenging conversations. Maria emphasizes that these discussions cannot happen effectively while trying to meet deadlines or during regular work activities. The Power of Empathic Connection "Empathy drives change. It drives change from the inside out." Building trust starts with establishing empathic connections. Maria shares how this approach drives change from the inside out, rather than trying to force external changes. Managing Conflict as a Resource "Conflict, when approached compassionately, is our biggest free resource that opens the door to creativity." Rather than viewing conflict as a problem to be solved, Maria suggests seeing it as a valuable resource for positive change. When approached compassionately, conflict can open doors to creativity and innovation. Language and Trust-Building "Words can be windows or walls... language is the software in our brains that we use to tell us what to do." The words we choose can either build bridges or create barriers. Maria introduces the concept of "enforcement mentality" and its impact on workplace relationships. In this segment, we refer to the episode with Michelle Pauk on the importance of language in our work. Practical Tools for Leaders Maria shares several practical approaches for leaders to build trust and manage conflict: Slow down conversations using techniques like the metronome Use phrases like "If I understand you, what you really want me to hear is..." Create opportunities to restart conversations with "This isn't the conversation I meant to have. Can I start again, please?" Maintaining Accountability Without Enforcement "You can say 'What conversation should I be having with you?' - how the person answers tells you everything you need to know." Creating accountability without falling into an enforcement mentality requires clear communication about expectations and consequences. Maria emphasizes the importance of making contracts explicit and inviting people to take ownership of their responsibilities. About Maria Arpa Maria Arpa is an expert mediator, counselor, and advocate for meaningful workplace change, and the creator of the Dialogue Roadmap - a communications tool that moves away from accusative/blaming ways of communicating to a much more compassionate and collaborative way of working. In her book "Mindfulness at Work", Maria offers powerful strategies to transform stressful, conflict-ridden workplaces into environments of harmony and collaboration. You can connect with Maria Arpa on LinkedIn, or visit Maria Arpa’s Workplace Huddle website.

1 Mars 37min