The Story of Software

• S04E28 Coaching Engineers vs Athletes

   Michael Zucker, VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, joined us today to discuss some of the parallels in coaching athletes vs software engineers. The Guest:Michael Zucker is a software executive with over 20 years of experience in the field. Today, he is the VP of Engineering at UNiDAYS, a platform offering exclusive discounts and deals from top brands to students, as well as providing student verification services to the likes of Apple, Meta and other large companies. In addition to this, he has also successfully coached ice hockey teams for the same amount of time throughout his career. In this episode, Michael joins us to explore the parallels between coaching athletes and managing software engineering teams. Michael shares insights from his unconventional career path, highlighting the importance of emotional intelligence, resilience, and a growth mindset in leadership roles. Listen in as we discuss how effective feedback, clear strategies, and genuine care for individual growth are crucial whether you're on the ice or in the office. Some highlights of this episode include:Parallels Between Coaching Athletes and Managing EngineersThe Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership Why Great Engineers (or Athletes) Don’t Always Make Great ManagersFeedback Culture: Athletes vs. EngineersFuture Trends in Software Development (Beyond AI) Listen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: [email protected]

  --------  

  23:35

  --------

  23:35
• S04E27 Emotional Intelligence

  Craig Hughes, CTO at Nas Neuron Health Services, speaks about the role and importance of emotional intelligence in tech leadership. The Guest:Craig Hughes is a software executive with over 20 years of experience in leading large scale digital transformations, mainly in the banking sector. He is now the CTO at Nas Neuron Health Services, UAE's largest group of health insurance third-party administrators. In this episode, Craig dives deep into the critical role of emotional intelligence in tech leadership, drawing on lessons from his global career and personal experiences, including pivotal moments of insight. From defining what emotional intelligence looks like in engineering teams to the pitfalls of promoting purely on technical merit, this conversation explores how empathy, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills shape effective leadership, team cohesion, and organisational health in today’s tech landscape.Some highlights of this episode include:Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in Tech LeadershipHow to Identify Future LeadersTechnology, Isolation, and the Decline of EQBuilding EQ Without FrameworksThe Future of Software and the Loss of FundamentalsListen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: [email protected]

  --------  

  25:24

  --------

  25:24
• S04E26 Measuring Performance

  Oliver Spragg, Advisor at Postera Capital and the ex-CTO of Plan A, talks about the growth of the company, from technical architecture and team structure to strategy and culture. The Guest:Oliver Spragg is an Advisor at Postera Capital, and the previous CTO of Plan A, which enables global brands such as BMW, KFC, and Visa to measure, report, and reduce their emissions. Over the last 5 years, he led the engineering organisation at Plan A through a period of rapid growth, shaping everything from technical architecture and team structure to strategy and culture. He’s especially interested in applying machine learning principles to build high performing teams and drive operational excellence.Some highlights of this episode include:The evolution of a CTO's role in startupsThe pitfalls of over-optimising metricsBuilding high-performing engineering teamsAI’s role in measuring and enhancing developer experienceThe future of software development: from code to domain expertiseListen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: [email protected]

  --------  

  31:59

  --------

  31:59
• S04E25 Rebooting Culture

  Eric Matteson, CTO at Accurx,  talks about his career history and rebooting a company’s culture.The Guest :Eric Matteson is a seasoned engineering executive with over 25 years of industry experience. He is now the CTO at Accurx, a company dedicated to optimising communication between healthcare professionals and patients. In this episode, we interview Eric, who shares his dynamic 25-year career journey from early leadership roles at Microsoft, Amazon, Blizzard and several startups before joining Accurx. Eric discusses his leadership approach to building effective cultures, highlighting that every company requires a unique blend of principles tailored to its people, product, and context—rather than simply replicating past playbooks.Some highlights of this episode include:Cultural Challenges & Rebooting Culture at AccurxAdapting Leadership Principles to Fit the OrganizationRe-architecting Systems & Cultural ChangeAI’s Role in Engineering & the Future of WorkListen to the Story of Software any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: [email protected]

  --------  

  38:43

  --------

  38:43
• S04E24 Cleantech Creators: Larsen Mabika

  Larsen Mabika, CEO & Co-Founder at Maiven, talks about the journey that led him to co-found his company, and the challenges and opportunities he sees in climate tech.The Guest:Today’s guest is Larsen Mabika, the Co-Founder and CEO of Maiven, an AI-powered platform that helps businesses navigate the rapidly changing world of climate policy. With a background in data and carbon markets, Larsen brings a unique perspective on how technology can cut through the noise, highlight risks and opportunities, and help organizations stay ahead in the sustainability space. In this episode, we’ll explore the journey that led him to co-found Maiven, the challenges and opportunities he sees in climate tech, and how AI is shaping the future of policy-driven decision-making.Some highlights of this episode include:Navigating the overwhelming pace of climate policy changeThe origins of Maiven: insights from working in carbon marketsThe power of combining diverse expertise in Maiven’s leadershipUnlocking opportunities through climate policiesHarnessing ai for timely, global insightsListen to the Story of Software on any podcast platform of your choice. The Story of Software Podcast is produced by Zartis, a software services company. We hope you enjoy listening to this tech podcast and feel free to share any feedback with us: [email protected]

  --------  

  21:16

  --------

  21:16

More Technology podcasts

Trending Technology podcasts

About The Story of Software