Softwire TechTalks Podcast Por Softwire capa

Softwire TechTalks

Softwire TechTalks

De: Softwire
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 The Digital Lighthouse is a podcast for CTOs and other tech leaders looking to navigate their organisation through endless disruption and turbulence. Packed full of real life stories and insights, this podcast serves as your guiding light - wherever you are in your journey and whatever challenges you face.All rights reserved
Episódios
  • Navigating the messy middle of technology projects with Rachael Morgan

    Navigating the messy middle of technology projects with Rachael Morgan
    Dec 11 2025
    Why do technology projects get so messy even when they start with clear plans and enthusiastic teams? And what can leaders do to navigate the chaos in the middle? In this episode, Zoe Cunningham speaks with Rachael Morgan, an experienced Head of Technology. She has worked in different industries from the NHS, betting and gaming, and is currently in finance. They explore the messy middle of tech delivery. Drawing on experience across the NHS, Sky Betting and Gaming, and now Flutter, Rachael explains why delivery challenges rarely come from the technology itself, but from people, process choices, and the complexity of real organisational ecosystems. Rachael shares practical insights from leading six global data engineering teams, including how to strike the right balance of process, how to understand and use individual strengths within a team, and why continuous communication is essential when navigating uncertainty. 🔎 You’ll learn: • What the “messy middle” is and why every technology project encounters it • Why humans, not technology, are the real drivers of delivery success • How process frameworks help, hinder, and grow unintentionally over time • The risks of over-processing and under-processing in regulated environments • How leaders can use metrics and communication to spot real delivery risks early • Why understanding your team and understanding yourself sit at the core of effective leadership • How reflection helps leaders manage emotion, complexity, and decision making 💡 Whether you lead engineering teams, manage digital projects, or work anywhere near technology delivery, this conversation offers practical and thoughtful guidance for handling complexity with confidence. ⸻ Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 01:11 – Rachael’s career journey through NHS, gaming, and data leadership 03:52 – What the “messy middle” means in tech delivery 07:07 – Why technology is binary but delivery is human 08:47 – Process frameworks, complexity, and making the right choices 11:30 – How much process is “just enough”? 14:18 – Learning from other leaders and industries 20:01 – Is Agile the answer? 21:18 – Humans are messy, and that is a strength 23:56 – Understanding individuals and leadership at scale 24:48 – How to tell normal problems from real project danger 28:11 – Why leaders must understand themselves ⸻ 🎧 Listen to The Digital Lighthouse: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | SoundCloud 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, innovation, and the human side of technology. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming interviews. We’d also appreciate a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us continue improving the show. #TechLeadership #DigitalDelivery #EngineeringManagement #ProjectDelivery #RachaelMorgan #TheDigitalLighthouse #ZoeCunningham #FlutterEntertainment #MessyMiddle #Softwire
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    31 minutos
  • Why ensemble working builds stronger engineering teams with Clare Sudbery | The Digital Lighthouse

    Why ensemble working builds stronger engineering teams with Clare Sudbery | The Digital Lighthouse
    Nov 12 2025
    In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham talks with Clare Sudbery — independent technical coach, consultant, and international speaker with over 25 years in software engineering. Clare has worked across healthcare, insurance, and travel, and now helps technical teams boost performance through clarity, alignment, and collaboration. Together they explore ensemble working — also known as mob programming or software teaming — and why it’s a powerful shift from solo coding to true collective problem-solving. Clare explains how ensemble working speeds up delivery, reduces risk, and builds stronger, kinder teams that learn faster and work better together. Discover: What ensemble working is and how it extends pair programming Why complex systems demand collaboration, not heroics How agile and XP principles shape ensemble practices The hidden costs of handoffs and meetings — and how to remove them Why onboarding, training, and new features are ideal starting points How kindness and fast feedback drive high performance See Clare live on 16 October at Outpace Conf Manchester → outpaceconf.com
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    37 minutos
  • From good to great: The secrets of team effectiveness with Sean Riches

    From good to great: The secrets of team effectiveness with Sean Riches
    Nov 12 2025
    What separates a good team from a truly great one? In this episode of The Digital Lighthouse, host Zoe Cunningham sits down with Sean Riches, founder and managing director of Erskine Nash Associates, to explore the science and psychology behind high-performing teams. With over 20 years’ experience in leadership, organisational psychology, and consultancy, Sean has worked with global giants like Vodafone, Oracle, Microsoft, and TCS. Through his CAB model — Clarity, Alignment, Behaviour — he helps leaders and teams move beyond competence to excellence. Together, Zoe and Sean unpack the real drivers of team effectiveness, from psychological safety to behavioural alignment, and share practical ways to measure and improve performance across thinking and feeling dimensions. In this episode, discover: The five key traits of high-performing teams (from Google’s Project Aristotle) How to measure both the cognitive and emotional sides of team effectiveness Why clarity, alignment, and behaviour are the foundation of lasting performance How leaders can overcome fear, complexity, and disengagement Real-world techniques for assessing and improving team dynamics If you enjoy this episode, please follow The Digital Lighthouse and we'd appreciate a quick rating or review. Your feedback helps us continue bringing you expert insights on leadership, technology, and the future of work.
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    30 minutos
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