The Story of Software

• S04E34 Cleantech Creators: Brenda Park

  Discover the current and future state of the renewable energy sector with Brenda Park, COO of the ground-breaking Scottish energy storage business, StorTera.  The Guest:Brenda is a seasoned operations leader with a PhD in Physics and over a decade of experience in the renewable energy sector. As COO and Director at StorTera—an Edinburgh-based energy storage innovator—she has been instrumental in building and leading the company’s core team of scientists and engineers, propelling the development of groundbreaking Single Liquid Flow Battery (SLiQ) technology and the StorAI platform Brenda’s expertise spans agile project management, renewable systems, and the commercialization of innovative energy storage solutions, making her a key force in advancing the mission towards a more sustainable and resilient energy infrastructure.Some highlights of this episode include:The Problem of Wind and Solar CurtailmentLimitations of Lithium-Ion BatteriesSustainability and Circular Economy PracticesCommunity Energy Projects and AI-Enhanced Smart Grids 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]

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• S04E33 UAE’s Leading Fintech: Sarwa’s Story

  Jad Sayegh, Co-Founder & CTO at Sarwa, joins us to reflect on his journey in building Sarwa and how his role has evolved as the company has matured.The Guest:Jad Sayegh is Co-Founder & CTO at Sarwa, a leading fintech company in the UAE  that is transforming wealth management with accessible, technology-powered investment solutions. In this episode, Jad reflects on his journey from telecoms and high-speed trading in Canada to launching Sarwa in Dubai, and how the company has evolved from a prototype to a one-stop investing platform. He shares insights on building for a new market, navigating regulation, attracting and retaining global talent, and how his role as CTO has shifted as Sarwa scaled to 100+ people. We also touch on the challenges and opportunities of innovating in a fast-moving Fintech ecosystem, and the leadership lessons Jad has drawn from mentors and books along the way Some highlights of this episode include:The Origin Story of SarwaPioneering Regulatory Change in the UAEBuilding and Retaining Talent in a Transient MarketThe Evolution of the CTO RoleCustomer Feedback, Product Coherence, and Experimentation 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]

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• S04E32 Scaling Form3

  In this episode, Kevin shares his journey from founding engineer to senior leadership, reflecting on the challenges of transitioning from hands-on coding to enabling teams and departments to succeed.  The Guest:Kevin Holditch is VP of Engineering at Form3, a leading provider of payment infrastructure powering real-time, secure transactions for banks and Fintech companies worldwide. We discuss Form3’s cloud-native payment infrastructure, the balance between innovation and regulatory demands, and their deliberate approach to hiring top-tier talent globally, even pre-COVID. Kevin highlights the company’s engineering achievements, including a multi-cloud platform capable of processing payments seamlessly across AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, and offers insights into scaling remote teams, nurturing internal leadership, and maintaining job satisfaction.Some highlights of this episode include:Transition from Engineer to LeaderBuilding a Multi-Cloud Active-Active-Active Payment PlatformHiring Philosophy & Talent StrategyOperating in a Regulated Financial Environment While Staying InnovativeImpact and Caution Around AI in Software DevelopmentListen 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]

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• S04E31 Managing Blended Teams

  Philip Gill, CTO at Smartbox Group, speaks about his experience in leading globally distributed blended teams. The Guest:Philip Gill has over a decade of experience in cultivating high-performing multinational software teams. He is now the CTO at Smartbox Group, a European leader in experience gifting, offering curated travel, dining, and adventure packages across multiple countries. Phil shares the evolution of his career from QA engineer to CTO, and the operational philosophies that have shaped Smartbox’s growth. He discusses the company’s blended team model, the importance of cultural fit, building trust across borders, and how rigorous processes have enabled major software rollouts under pressure. Phil also offers a grounded view on the current and future impact of AI in software development, highlighting both its promise and its hype.Some highlights of this episode include:Building and Leading Globally Distributed, Blended TeamsCulture-First Hiring and Team PsychologyCycle Time and Quality Engineering MetricsPractical View on AI in Software DevelopmentListen 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]

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• S04E30 Cleantech Creators: Molly Webb

  Molly Webb,Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo, shares her 20+ year journey at the intersection of digital innovation and climate action. Molly Webb is the Founder of Energy Unlocked and Co-Founder of PeerCo, with over 20 years of experience at the intersection of technology and climate policy. She works to accelerate inclusive energy transitions by supporting startups, shaping policy, and enabling data-driven financing for electrification. Her focus spans demand-side flexibility, urban decarbonization, and creating tangible climate impact beyond tech hype.Molly shares the origins and evolution of Energy Unlocked’s mission to empower Cleantech startups and influence policy, and how that work led to Peerco; a venture tackling the challenge of financing small-scale urban decarbonisation projects through innovative use of energy attribute certificates. From city farms in London to solar projects in Lagos, Molly offers a grounded perspective on the realities of system change, the need for robust verification in carbon markets, and the importance of collective action as we push toward 2030.Some highlights of this episode include:The Origin Stories of Energy Unlocked and PeercoInclusive Energy Transition & Urban DecarbonizationMaking Behind-the-Meter Interventions Financially ViableTech Industry’s Ethical RoleListen 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]

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