The Software Leaders Uncensored Podcast

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews William Benner, the president and CTO of Pangolin Laser Systems. They discuss Benner's journey from a passion for electronics and music to founding a leading company in the laser show industry. The conversation covers the evolution of Pangolin, the current applications of their technology, the importance of niche mark...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Matt Peters, CTO of CAI, about his unique career journey, the company's approach to client relationships, and the challenges of integrating AI into their services. They discuss the evolving landscape of public sector AI adoption, the dynamics of software engineering teams, and the critical role of expectation managem...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Jared Shepard, an Army veteran turned entrepreneur. Jared shares his inspiring journey from being a high school dropout and homeless to becoming a successful CEO of multiple tech companies. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned in entrepreneurship, the importance of secure technology in the military, and the inn...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Jared Crapo, a seasoned tech entrepreneur with extensive experience in healthcare technology and product management. They discuss Jared's journey through nine tech startups, the unique challenges of the healthcare industry, and the transformative role of AI in improving efficiency and outcomes. The conversation also delv...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Stephen Miller, CTO of Steelcase, who shares his remarkable career journey from the help desk to the executive floor. They discuss the evolution of Steelcase, the integration of technology in office furniture manufacturing, and the challenges of leading a global software engineering team. Stephen emphasizes the importance...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Sean O'Neil, CTO of Dasion, about his extensive career in the healthcare technology sector. They discuss Sean's journey from help desk roles to leading innovative AI projects, including voice technology for disease diagnosis. The conversation also covers the challenges of managing software engineering teams, the...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Tom Doyle, CTO of Medidata, about his career journey, the evolution of clinical trials, and the impact of AI on healthcare. They discuss the importance of improving patient outcomes through technology, the challenges faced by tech leaders, and the lessons learned in the fast-paced world of software development. Tom share...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Tanuja Korlepra, CTO of Bonterra, who shares her extensive career journey from a device driver developer to a technology leader. Tanuja discusses the importance of empathy in tech, the challenges of being a female leader in a male-dominated field, and the evolving landscape of AI in software development. She emphasizes th...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Charity Majors, CTO and co-founder of Honeycomb. IO. They discuss Charity's journey through the tech industry, the challenges of building a startup, and the importance of observability in engineering. Charity shares insights on managing distributed teams, embracing AI, and the lessons learned from her experiences in...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio, about her nonlinear career journey from politics to tech, the importance of balancing family and work, and the role of AI in pay equity. They discuss the challenges of building trust in AI tools, the significance of clear communication in leadership, and the need for tech leaders to be ho...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Diamond Bishop, an engineering and AI leader at Datadog. They discuss Diamond's extensive career in AI, the role of Datadog in observability and security, and the impact of AI on software engineering. The conversation covers the evolution of AI tools, the challenges of raising capital for startups, and the future of...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Priya Vijayarajendran, CEO of ASAPP, about her extensive career in technology, transitioning from engineering to leadership roles in major companies like SAP, IBM, and Microsoft. Priya shares insights on the challenges of integrating AI into customer service, the innovative projects at ASAP, and the importance of a stron...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies, who shares his entrepreneurial journey and insights into the future of AI avatars. Akash discusses the vision behind Genies, the business model of AI companions, and the challenges of raising capital. He emphasizes the importance of building a strong technical team and shares valuable lessons l...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Samar, co-founder and CEO of Temporal IO. They discuss Samar's extensive career in software development, the unique offerings of Temporal, and the challenges of leading a rapidly growing tech company. Samar shares insights on building a remote engineering team, hiring practices, and the integration of AI into their o...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Bryan Mishkin, a fractional CTO and AI strategist. They discuss Brian's career journey, the role of fractional CTOs, and the challenges and opportunities in the tech industry today. Brian shares insights on working with various clients, the impact of AI on software development, and the importance of having the right...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Allan Leinwand, CTO of Webflow, about his career journey, the evolution of web development, and the challenges of leading engineering teams in a rapidly changing tech landscape. They discuss the importance of AI in enhancing productivity, the dynamics of remote work, and the critical lessons learned in leadership. Alan s...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Todd Greenbaum, CEO of Input1, about his unique career journey, the evolution of the insurance industry, and the challenges of leading a family business. They discuss the importance of cultural alignment in remote work, the integration of AI in operations, and the future of insurance technology. Todd shares insights on f...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin and guest Evan Shy discuss the importance of embracing failure in entrepreneurship, bridging capability gaps in technology, and the role of education in preparing talent for the AI-driven future. They explore innovative projects, the challenges of post-acquisition integration, and the critical need for high-quality talent in driving...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Chris Sullens, CEO of CentralReach, about his career journey, the mission of Central Reach in autism care, and the integration of AI in their software solutions. They discuss the unique challenges in the healthcare software space, the importance of company culture in a hybrid work environment, and the brutal lessons lear...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Raj Mallempati, CEO of BlueFlag Security, about his extensive journey in the tech industry, the importance of aligning product development with customer needs, and the evolving role of AI in software development. Raj shares insights on building a successful MVP, the dynamics of his engineering team, and the balance betwe...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin interviews Mark Sundnt, CTO of Stax Payments. They discuss Mark's extensive career in technology, his journey through various companies, and the evolution of his role in the fintech space. Mark shares insights on the importance of networking, the integration of AI in software development, and the challenges faced in the fintech...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Jack Kearney, co-founder and CTO of Turnkey, a crypto storage solution. Jack shares his journey from discovering Bitcoin in college to building a successful startup in the crypto space. The conversation covers topics such as crypto custody, the unique offerings of Turnkey, the challenges of scaling a startup, and the fut...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Oliver Tavakoli, CTO of Vectra AI, about his career journey, the evolving role of a CTO, and the challenges faced in the cybersecurity landscape. They discuss the integration of AI into operations, the importance of effective communication, and the lessons learned throughout Oliver's career. The conversation also tou...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with John Nordmark, CEO of Iterate.ai, about the journey of entrepreneurship, the importance of learning from failures, and the evolution of technology in business. John shares his experiences from founding eBags to creating Iterate AI, emphasizing the significance of adaptability and building strong teams in the tech industr...

In this episode of Software Leaders Uncensored, host Steve Taplin speaks with Michelle Tinsley, CEO of Sciata, about her extensive career in technology, transitioning from a corporate environment at Intel to the startup world. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the tech landscape, particularly around AI and software development, and the importance of building strong client relationsh...