Joel Beasley | Modern CTO

?? "Can you just add dark mode?" "Just add autofill?" "Just integrate AI?" The word "just" might be the most expensive word in product development. Dylan Etkin (Founder & CEO at Sleuth) shares a story that'll make every engineering leader laugh... and then cry: "Our punchline was: 80% done in two days. Three months later, we shipped." ?? The best part? Dylan admits that after years of receiving these requests as an engineering leader, he now catches himself making the same "just" requests as a founder. Whether you're the one asking or receiving these requests, we've all been there. The "just" iceberg looks small on the surface, but underneath... ?? ?? Listen to the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/e3AAhUcw #EngineeringLeadership #StartupLife #ProductDevelopment #TechHumor #Engineering #ModernCTO #SoftwareEngineering #TechLeaders ?? Pro tip: Next time someone says "just," multiply their time estimate by 3... then add some more! ??

?? Excited to share my latest conversation with Eric Rice, President of SOVRN Capital, who's revolutionizing the Bitcoin Inc. mining landscape. From skeptic to innovator, Eric shared fascinating insights about why Bitcoin mining could be more profitable than simply holding BTC. His team is leveraging waste energy and tax credits to mine at incredibly low costs - a game-changing approach in the industry. Key highlights from our discussion: ?? The future of Bitcoin mining and transaction fees ?? How mining operations are replacing traditional financial middlemen ?? Why Bitcoin matters globally (fascinating example from Iran!) ?? The economic implications of truly decentralized currency ?? Exclusive Opportunity: Eric's team at SOVRN Capital is opening up their mining operations to accredited investors. If you're interested in learning more about this unique investment opportunity in the Bitcoin mining space, drop a comment or DM. Listen to the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/e3MG2bJM #Bitcoin #Cryptocurrency #Investing #FinTech #Innovation #Technology #Business #Mining #Blockchain

?? "What do dashboard graveyards and your engineering metrics have in common?" Probably more than you'd like to admit. You know that feeling - someone shares a dashboard they're excited about, but when you open it... ?? The data's stale ?? The interpretation is unclear ? You have no idea what actions to take In our latest Modern CTO episode, Dylan Etkin (Founder & CEO at Sleuth) breaks down why these "dashboard graveyards" are killing your data culture - and what to do about it. The conversation goes deep into: ?? Moving beyond vanity metrics ?? The missing piece in DORA metrics ?? Why mixing quantitative & qualitative data matters ?? Real talk about AI's impact on tech teams ?? Listen to the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/e3AAhUcw Be honest - how many unused dashboards are floating around in your organization right now? #EngineeringLeadership #TechLeadership #StartupLife #Engineering #ModernCTO #ProductDevelopment #DataDriven #EngineeringMetrics

??? Part 2 with Mark Porter just dropped! ?? "Top Strategies for Securing Top Talent" with Mark Porter (CTO at dbt Labs) is live - and it's packed with unconventional wisdom that might challenge everything you know about hiring. My favorite insight? Mark asks candidates for references who will say "not great things" about them. Why? Because he's not looking for perfection - he's looking for growth, integrity, and good humans. Key highlights: ?? The "it never gets better than the interview" rule ?? Why back-channel references change everything ?? Making candidates genuinely want your role ?? Executive user manuals (game-changer!) ?? Check out the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/eTb7eMRV #ModernCTO #Leadership #Engineering #Hiring #TechTalent #dbt What's your take on Mark's reference check strategy? Drop your thoughts below ??

"A Masterclass in Communication as a Leader" - that's what we called this episode with Mark Porter, CTO of dbt Labs. Here's what stuck with me: ?? "Your boss controls whether you can pay your rent. Anyone who pretends power dynamics don't exist is naive." This raw truth bomb set the tone for our entire conversation. Here are three counterintuitive communication insights that emerged: 1?? The "Cooling Period" Method Want to avoid email regret? Porter's technique is brilliant: Write your heated response... then sit on it for 2 hours. "The vast majority of the time, you'll send either nothing or something completely different." 2?? The Surprise Prevention Framework "The worst thing that can happen at a company is surprises." Porter shared how proper escalation paths aren't just about process—they're about psychological safety. When people fear escalating issues, problems compound silently. 3?? The "Letter to Self" Technique Before making big decisions, Porter writes himself a letter explaining why he's right. Upon review, he often realizes he's "FOS" (you can guess what that means ??). This simple practice has prevented countless missteps. ?? Key Takeaway: Great leadership isn't about pretending power dynamics don't exist—it's about wielding that power responsibly through intentional communication. In this episode, we explore: ?? Tailoring messages across org levels ?? Role-playing difficult conversations ?? The psychology of written vs. verbal communication ?? Adapting leadership styles for different team members What's your take? Have you tried any of these communication techniques in your organization? Check out the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/eYC4kc9r #Leadership #Engineering #CTO #Communication #TechLeadership #ExecutiveAdvice #ManagementTips

?? Engineering Leadership Insight: Choreography vs. Orchestration Excited to share a powerful clip from our latest Modern CTO episode featuring Mark Martin, Sr. Director of Platform Engineering at SolarWinds, and Sagar Batchu, CEO of Speakeasy. ?? Key Question: When leading engineering teams, should you choreograph or orchestrate? ?? Mark's perspective: ?? Orchestration often leads to less autonomous teams ?? Choreography empowers true ownership ?? Better outcomes emerge from loosely choreographed teams ?? Team autonomy drives deeper engagement and accountability This shift in leadership approach can transform how your engineering teams operate and innovate. It's not just about managing teams—it's about enabling them to thrive. ?? Check out the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/evkUjb2x #EngineeringLeadership #TechManagement #SoftwareEngineering #TechLeadership #AgileTeams #DevOps #ModernCTO

??? NEW EPISODE ALERT: Bridging Cultures in Remote Tech Teams Thrilled to share our latest Modern CTO conversation featuring two brilliant tech leaders: ?? Sagar Batchu (CEO, Speakeasy) ?? Mark Martin (Sr. Director of Platform Engineering, SolarWinds) ?? Key Discussion Points: ?? Building & scaling distributed engineering teams ?? Cross-cultural communication strategies ?? Next-gen API development approaches ?? Observability best practices ?? Remote team dynamics & management ?? Standout Insights: "As leaders, we're shifting from orchestration to choreography, empowering autonomous teams to drive better outcomes." - Mark Martin "In startup chaos, clarity requires constant reinforcement. One-time communication isn't enough." - Sagar Batchu Whether you're scaling your API infrastructure or leading remote engineering teams, this episode packs practical insights you can implement today. ?? Listen to the full episode! https://lnkd.in/evkUjb2x #ModernCTO #Engineering #TechLeadership #APIDesign #RemoteWork #SoftwareEngineering #TechTalks #EngineeringManagement #CTO #TechnologyLeadership What's your biggest challenge in managing remote engineering teams? Share below ??

?? "Could micro nuclear reactors be the key to revolutionizing our energy landscape?" Thrilled to share my latest conversation with James Walker, CEO of Nano Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE), who pulls back the curtain on one of energy tech's most fascinating frontiers. ?? For those passionate about: ?? Clean energy solutions ?? Climate tech innovation ?? Energy market dynamics ?? Infrastructure development This episode unpacks the technological breakthroughs and strategic decisions shaping the future of nuclear energy. James brings remarkable clarity to complex topics, making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of technology, sustainability, and business. ?? Check out the full episode here! #NuclearEnergy #CleanTech #Innovation #Sustainability #Leadership #EnergyTransition #TechInnovation #ClimateAction #FutureOfEnergy #BusinessStrategy #SmallModularReactors

?? The Missing Metric at FedEx That Changed Everything... ?? ?? Tony Davis shares a career-defining moment when an executive walked into FedEx's million-dollar command center and asked one simple question: ? "Can you tell me how our customer experience is on FedEx.com?" ??? Despite all the fancy monitoring tools and screens, Tony couldn't answer. ?? ?? That moment sparked a 15-year journey to solve a fundamental problem in IT: How do you translate technical metrics into real business impact? ?? ?? Today, Tony, John Balsavage and the team at A&I Solutions, Inc have cracked the code with their Reliability Path Index - a single score that tells you exactly how your customers are experiencing your service, in real-time! ?? ? No more guessing ? No more "well, we have some network issues, so probably not great..." ?? Just clear, actionable insights that bridge the gap between IT metrics and business outcomes ?? Check out the full episode here! https://lnkd.in/eD5T_s_k #ITLeadership #CustomerExperience #DigitalTransformation #TechStrategy #Innovation #FedEx #BusinessMetrics #TechnologyLeadership #CIO #ITOps

??? NEW EPISODE: Build, Buy, or Wait? The AI Content Battle We just dropped a fascinating conversation with Jeff Umbro, CEO of The Podglomerate, where we tackle one of the most pressing questions in media today: How far should we go with AI in podcasting? Here's what we explored: ?? The ethics of fully AI-generated content ?? Why transparency matters in AI implementation ?? The eternal debate: Will technology replace human connection? ?? A surprising experiment with AI-generated podcasts ?? The real value of human-driven content creation ?? Hot Takes: "We were promised flying cars and we got Twitter" - Jeff's perspective on tech evolution hit different. But what really caught my attention was our heated debate about AI's role in professional podcast production. Jeff brings years of industry expertise and a refreshingly nuanced take on where we draw the line with AI tools. Want to hear two tech leaders respectfully disagree about the future of content creation? This episode is for you. ?? Listen now: https://lnkd.in/e4NTwQVW #AIinMedia #PodcastInnovation #FutureOfTech #MediaTech #Leadership #ContentCreation #ModernCTO #TechLeadership #Innovation Thoughts on AI in podcasting? Drop your take in the comments ??